Parents and farming communities across Wales have voiced deep concern after a new investigation revealed that children in some Welsh councils are being served school meals containing chicken sourced from as far afield as China, Thailand and Brazil.
The investigation by the Countryside Alliance found that in several council areas, imported chicken dominates school meal menus. For example, Merthyr Tydfil Council reported that 99.35 % of the chicken in their school meals came from Thailand and China, and Gwynedd Council said 87.62 % of its chicken was sourced from Brazil, Thailand or China — despite both areas being predominantly rural.
Conwy and Caerphilly Councils were also particularly bad, reporting 94% and 87.32% (respectively) of their school chicken as being sourced from outside both the UK and EU.
Janet Finch-Saunders, Senedd Member for Aberconwy said:
“Parents are absolutely right to be shocked. For something as fundamental as school meals, people reasonably expect food to be sourced at least from Britain, and preferably from Wales, particularly when the Welsh Government repeatedly states its intention to support Welsh farmers and reduce food miles.
If we truly value our children’s health, our environment and our rural economy, then Welsh food should be the default in Welsh schools.
This situation highlights a clear gap between what the Welsh Government says and what is actually happening on the ground. Ministers must urgently work with councils to ensure school meals contracts prioritise Welsh produce, so public money supports local farmers and local jobs.”
Only Two Welsh Authorities Serve exclusively UK-Sourced Chicken in Schools
Analysis of 21 local authorities showed that only two — Anglesey and Bridgend — sourced all of their school chicken from the UK, while no council could report how much Welsh chicken they procured.
Welsh farmer and father of three Hefin Jones described the situation as “frustrating”, saying that councils should be backing home-grown produce rather than importing meat “halfway around the world” — a practice he says makes little sense for food security, animal welfare or the environment.
SFS set to reduce Welsh Livestock by 5% on Climate Grounds – while imports have a higher carbon footprint
Rachel Evans, Director of Countryside Alliance Wales, commented that the findings highlighted a wider contradiction between Welsh food policy and practice:
“As a mother and a farmer, I’m shocked and disappointed that, when we have such high quality Welsh and British produce, including chickens farmed with some of the best welfare standards in the world, so much of the chicken our children are eating is being shipped in from the other side of the world.
“There’s a real contradiction here. The new Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS) launched on January 1 2026 could lead to a 5% reduction in livestock numbers in the name of climate change and sustainability, yet public bodies are serving imported chicken flown or shipped in from as far away as Thailand, China and Brazil, increasing carbon emissions and lowering food standards, all while undermining local agriculture. Sustainability should start at home, by supporting Welsh farmers and producing food responsibly here in Wales.
“The Welsh government needs to take urgent action to ensure that public money spent on school meals supports Welsh farming, high food standards and sustainability.”
The Alliance is now calling on the Welsh Government to reform school meal procurement frameworks, prioritise Welsh and British produce, and introduce mandatory transparency on food provenance in public sector catering.