PM Launches Investigation into Horse Meat in Burgers

UK - The Food Standards Agency in the UK has launched a full scale investigation into the discovery of traces of horse meat and pig meat in beef burgers being sold in a number of supermarkets.

17 January 2013

3 minute read

Europe

The investigation follows an urgent call from the British Prime Minister David Cameron for immediate action.

In the House of Commons Mr Cameron Said: "People in our country will have been very concerned to read this morning that while they thought they were buying beefburgers, they were buying something that had horsemeat in it.

"That is extremely disturbing news.

"I have asked the Food Standards Agency to conduct an urgent investigation.

"It has made it clear that there is no risk to public safety, because there is no food safety risk, but this is a completely unacceptable state of affairs.

"The FSA will meet retailers and processors this afternoon and work with them to investigate the supply chain, but it is worth making the point that, ultimately, retailers have to be responsible for what they sell and where it has come from."

The discovery came to light following an investigation by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland into beef products.

The British Food Standards Agency said it has now had a meeting with representatives from the food industry - producers, processors and retailers - from all parts of the UK.

The meeting explored the reasons that could have led to a number of beef products on sale in the UK and the Republic of Ireland containing traces of horse and pig DNA.

Industry representatives confirmed the existing processes that they follow to ensure that the products that reach consumers are of the highest standards. These include quality controls in place at all stages of the food chain. They also set out the actions that they have already taken in response to this incident.

It was noted that there are two distinct types of case:

In all but one of the cases, the levels of horse and pig DNA were extremely low.
In the one exceptional case, the level of horse meat accounted for 29% of the meat content.

The causes of these two problems are therefore likely to be different and the focus of the investigations into the causes will be different. The FSA has now set out a four-point plan for its investigation, which it will be implementing in conjunction with other Government departments, local authorities and the food industry:

To continue the urgent review of the traceability of the food products identified in FSAI’s survey. The retailers and the UK processor named in the survey have been asked to provide comprehensive information on the findings by the end of Friday 18 January.
To explore further, in conjunction with the Food Safety Authority of Ireland, the methodology used for the survey to understand more clearly the factors that may have led to the low level cases of cross-contamination.
To consider, with relevant local authorities and the Food Safety Authority of Ireland, whether any legal action is appropriate following the investigation.
To work with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), the devolved rural affairs departments and local authorities on a UK-wide study of food authenticity in processed meat products.