Iceland backtracks on Del Monte pineapples linked to violence

Iceland has backtracked on a recent statement and confirmed it is still stocking Del Monte pineapple products from a farm in Kenya linked to alleged human rights abuses.

Two weeks ago, when approached for comment after violence broke out near Del Monte’s Thika plantation, an Iceland spokesperson told TBIJ it did not stock products from the farms in question.

However, the supermarket has since said that its statement doesn’t apply to all canned pineapple products from the farm, which has been the subject of a TBIJ and the Guardian investigation into allegations of brutal beatings and killings of pineapple thieves by Del Monte’s security guards.

An Iceland spokesperson said: “Our buyers remain in regular dialogue with Del Monte and are reviewing the products currently available at our stores. Iceland has thorough processes in place to ensure our high standards are met across all product ranges and we will continue to monitor this situation.”

Several supermarkets, including Tesco, Waitrose and Asda, stopped stocking canned Del Monte pineapple from Kenya after TBIJ’s original investigation, which the fruit company said it took “extremely seriously” and would investigate. More recently, Sainsbury’s and Morrisons told TBIJ they were no longer supplied by Del Monte Kenya.

Iceland’s amended statement means it is now the last known UK supermarket stocking canned Del Monte pineapple products from Kenya.

When asked to account for the inaccuracy of the original statement, Iceland blamed “human error”, which it said it addressed immediately and transparently. It did not provide a timeline for its review of products.