TheMeatSite Newsletter - 31th July 2013

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Wednesday 31st July 2013.

Chris Harris
Editor in Chief

Repercussions of Horse Meat Scandal Rumble On

The repercussions over the scandal of beef products contaminated with horse meat were resounding across Europe again this week.

After members of parliament in the UK recently expressed their concern that no prosecutions had yet been seen over the mislabelling of products and the fraud that allowed products containing horsemeat to be portrayed as beef the Food Safety Authority of Ireland produced the results of its survey into the impact the affair has had on consumer confidence.

The food safety authority was the first to break the news of contamination of products following random DNA tests taken of burgers and frozen ready meals earlier this year.

The latest FSAI report shows there have been a significant changes in purchasing habits, reflecting a reduction in consumer confidence and trust.

More than half of those who bought frozen beef burgers in the past are buying less.

The FSAI said that overall, the issue has resulted in a marked increase in awareness of food safety, with 50 per cent of respondents saying they are now more conscious about food safety issues in general.

The implications of the issue for consumer purchasing behaviour, showed that 45 per cent of consumers now spend more time reading labels on food products.

More than half (53 per cent) say they are now more conscious of the ingredients that go into manufactured food products, while 56 per cent say they are more conscious about the country of origin of food products.

Of those who bought processed foods containing meat in the past (e.g. lasagne, shepherd’s pie, etc), 42 per cent say they now buy less of these products, while 56 per cent continue to buy the same amount.

While the UK parliamentarians had regretted th lack of a prosecution over the affair, the Irish agriculture minister Simon Coveney said that it would take time top ensure that a solids case could be brought to the courts.

Meanwhile, in France, one of the companies that was at the centre of the scandal, Spanghero, which was forced to close earlier this year, has reopened under a new name.

The meat plant based in Castlenaudary in Aude opened this week under the name of La Lauagaise.

However, the company that used to employ 230 people will now have a staff of just 95.

The company regained its health certification about two weeks ago, having lost the permit during the horse meat scandal.

TheMeatSite Book Focus

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	Camel Meat and Meat Products The potential of camel meat in helping to meet projected world food shortages, and being sustainably farmed, is explored by the editors. This book is suitable for researchers and graduate students in meat science and agriculture. Order Now Online

This Week's Articles and Analysis

Pork Quality Matters – Quantity versus Quality
In most walks of life, quality and quantity are inextricably linked: as you increase one, the other inevitably decreases. You just don’t get big and good.

Short Term Outlook for EU Arable Crops, Meat and Dairy Markets: Pigmeat
Pig meat production in the EU is likely to be down for a second consecutive year, according to the latest 'Short Term Outlook for EU Arable Crops, Meat and Dairy Markets' from the European Commission.

Balancing Food Security and Environmental Quality in China
In many ways, the evolution of Chinese agriculture over the past 40 years is a remarkable success story. Spurred by investments in research and government subsidies for fertilizers and other farm technologies, China now feeds 22 per cent of the world's population on just 9 per cent of its total arable land.

Management Practices Associated with the Carriage of Yersinia enterocolitica in Pigs
A survey of Finnish pig farms reveals that the prevalence of the foodborne pathogen, Yersinia enterocolitica, on pig farms is reduced where there is an all-in, all-out housing system and where water is supplied from the municipal system.