UNITE called on the government yesterday not to “sell out” British food workers by accepting imports of chlorinated chicken in a post-Brexit trade deal with the United States.

The union said that public health and decent jobs would be at risk if the government allowed US-made chlorinated chicken to enter the country.

The warning coincided with American Farm Bureau boss Zippy Duvall saying that an agreement on chlorinated chicken was an “essential” part of any deal between Prime Minister Boris Johnson and President Donald Trump.

Unite food, drink and agricultural national officer Bev Clarkson said: “We want a clear statement from Theresa Villiers, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, that she will not sell out our food workers in any deal with Trump.

“We will strongly campaign against this race to the bottom in the food sector, where thousands of people are employed on low pay.

“The economic future and livelihoods of many communities are at stake because of Johnson’s cavalier and reckless approach to Brexit.”