Tesco has halted production at a factory in China alleged to have used ‘forced’ labour to make charity Christmas cards.
It was reported that a six-year-old schoolgirl from south London found a message from Shanghai prisoners hidden in a box of cards she opened to distribute to friends.
“Forced to work against our will. Please help us and notify human rights organisation,” the message said.
Tesco said it was “shocked” by the report, adding: “We would never allow prison labour in our supply chain.”
The supermarket said it would de-list the supplier of the cards, Zheijiang Yunguang Printing, if it was found to have used prison labour.
Tesco donates £300,000 (€352,000) each year from the sale of the cards to the British Heart Foundation, Cancer Research UK and Diabetes UK.
