The Food Standards Agency in the UK announced last week that three people were arrested by Dyfed-Powys Police on suspicion of fraud as a result of the investigation into the use of horse meat in the human food chain. FSA officers also investigated three facilities in England with local authorities and the police. One was in Hull and two were in Tottenham. Computers and "documentary evidence" were removed from those facilities along with meat samples that were to be tested. Europol has been informed and is analyzing information in 35 countries about the scandal. The arrests were made at Farmbox Meats near Aberystywth in Wales and at the Peter Boddy Slaughterhouse in Todmorden, West Yorkshire. The men arrested were 64, 42, and 63 years old, respectively. Approvals for both of those … [Read more...]
EU Will Test All Beef for Horse Meat
EU Health Commissioners Tonio Borg announced last week that meat products throughout Europe will undergo DNA testing to see if they contain horse meat. He said, "the tests will be on DNA in meat products in all member states." The horse meat scandal erupted in January 2013 after the Food Safety Authority of Ireland found horse DNA in some beef burger, salami, and beef meal products. Horse meat was also found in Findus lasagane sold in the UK. The findings increased concerns about labeling of food and security of Europe's food system; but there is another problem. Some of the horse meat may contain the harmful drug phenylbutazone, commonly known as "bute", that is given to race horses. That drug is not approved for human consumption. Bute can cause aplastic anemia, but the amounts in … [Read more...]
Is Oklahoma Yea or Neigh On Horse Meat?
Three arrests have been made in the food fraud scandal that has gripped Europe since horse meat was detected in burgers and frozen lasagne. The men who work at Farmbox Meats near Aberystywth and Peter Boddy Slaughterhouse in Todmorden, West Yorkshire, will be interviewed by investigators from the Food Standards Agency. Operations at those plants have been suspended while the investigation proceeds. Meanwhile, in the United States, two bills have been introduced in the Oklahoma Legislature, one authored by Rep. (R) Skye McNeil (HB1999) that would make processing but not eating horse meat legal in the state, the other authored by Sen. Mark Allen (SB375) that would make eating horse meat legal. This week, Sen. Allen's bill unanimously passed the Senate Agriculture and Rural Development … [Read more...]
UK Says No To Horseburger, OK Says Let’s Try It
When the Food Safety Authority of Ireland recently discovered horse DNA in ground meat, some which made its way into Burger King sandwiches in the UK and then into Findus lasagne sold in the UK, the reaction by most consumers there and here was the same: gross. But not all Americans are grossed out by the idea of eating horse meat. In Oklahoma, two bills- one authored by Rep. (R) Skye McNeil (HB1999) and another authored by Sen. Mark Allen (SB375) have made their way onto the Legislative docket. If passed, they would make the sale of horse meat legal in the state of Oklahoma. In 2011, Congress lifted a five-year ban in selling horse meat for human consumption. Companies that want to slaughter horses for human food in states where it is not banned have to apply for a federal grant of … [Read more...]
Food Safety Authority of Ireland Finds Horse Meat in Beef Burger Products
The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) has found horse DNA in some beef burger, beef meal, and salami products available for sale in that country. This raises concerns about traceability of ingredients entering the food chain as well as concerns about accurate food labeling. Scientists analyzed 27 beef burger products. Ten of them, or 37%, tested positive for horse DNA, and twenty-three, or 85%, tested positive for pig DNA. Traces of horse DNA were detected in batches of raw ingredients. In one sample from beef purchased from Tesco, 29% of the burger product was made of horse meat. Professor Alan Reilly, Chief Executive of FSAI said that "the products we have identified as containing horse DNA and/or pig DNA do not pose any food safety risk and consumers should not be worried. … [Read more...]
