Correspondence
Email sent to Denis Hurley, Operations Director of Westbridge Food Group.
The email said: "I’m contacting you in light of our latest investigation which concerns the use of forced labor in China’s food processing industry, and a link we’ve discovered between a company engaged in such practices and your supply chain.
Shandong Meijia Group has received persons from the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of the People’s Republic of China under the state-imposed labor transfer program. The United Nations, human rights organizations and academic experts agree that since 2018, the Chinese government has systematically subjected Xinjiang’s predominantly Muslim ethnic minorities to forced labor across the country via state-sanctioned employment schemes which use coercive methods in worker enrollment.
Shandong Meijia Group’s website says that Westbridge Food Group is an international partner of the group. Does Westbridge Food Group have any comment or statement to make in light of the above information? Please respond to this email by close of business June 20, 2023."
The Outlaw Ocean Project emailed Carl Cooper, Responsible Sourcing Manager at Westbridge Foods: "I'm writing to ask whether we can expect a response from Westbridge on this? I'm assuming it's made its way to you at some point. If we're off the mark it would be good to know, obviously we're only going off of what is on Meijia's website here. Otherwise, I'm sure you know that there are a large number of companies affected, and given the role your company and parent play in the global (sea)food system, it would be good to understand the perspective on our findings."