A better brew?
Jane Deith
Some news to report on the impact of File on 4's investigation into conditions for workers on some of Assam's tea plantations - Twinings, Taylors of Harrogate and Fortnum & Mason have joined Harrods in stopping buying tea from supplier Assam Company, on whose estates we found workers spraying pesticides without proper protective clothing and equipment, and people forced to live in broken homes with poor sanitation.
As explained in the latest BBC News article the British tea brands took the decision after the Rainforest Alliance's own auditor confirmed what we saw and withdrew it's ethical certification (the Green Frog seal of approval) from Assam Company.
The Rainforest Alliance and the brands broadly say that they're leaving the door open to buying again from the plantations, if they improve.
And some good news about the other estates we visited with problems - owned by McLeod Russel; Rainforest Alliance ordered it to improve housing too - and union leaders say they've seen big improvements already.