The Co-op has announced it will stop selling produce from Israel and 16 other nations it deems “countries of concern” over human rights violations, in a move that has drawn criticism from politicians and praise from ethical sourcing campaigners.
The supermarket chain said the shift in policy is part of its broader commitment to ethical trading and peace advocacy, following a mandate from its members. Under the revised guidelines, it will phase out products where possible from countries facing “internationally recognised community-wide human rights abuses and violations of international law.”
The countries named in the policy include Israel, Iran, Russia, North Korea, and Mali. Affected products include Israeli carrots, Russian vodka, and mangoes from Mali, which will be gradually removed from shelves and ingredient sourcing from this month onwards.
Debbie White, chair of the Co-op board, said the decision aligned with the retailer’s values and legacy of ethical sourcing.
“We are committed, where we can, to removing products and ingredients from our shelves which are sourced from those countries where the international consensus demonstrates there is not alignment with what happens in those countries and our co-operative values and principles,” White said.
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