Security guards at a Del Monte pineapple farm in Kenya - that supplies many British supermarkets - have been accused of brutally assaulting and killing people suspected of trespassing on its land. The vast plantation, which is estimated to cover at least 40 km2, is about an hour’s drive from the Kenyan capital, Nairobi.
Tesco has suspended Del Monte products sourced from this pineapple farm as the investigation has uncovered claims that the use of violence by security guards at the plantation has been excessive.
The farm supplies British supermarkets including Tesco, Waitrose, Sainsbury’s, Asda, Morrisons and Ocado with fruit products, and is the largest exporter of Kenyan produce to the world. Del Monte said it took the allegations “extremely seriously” and has launched its own investigation into the claims.
A Tesco spokesperson was quoted as saying: “We are shocked and appalled to learn of these allegations on Del Monte’s Thika farm in Kenya. We have therefore taken the decision to immediately suspend Del Monte fruit products sourced from this farm pending a thorough and credible investigation into these claims.”
Source: grocerygazette.co.uk