Horse Meat Scandal Could Happen Again

The horse meat scandal that rocked the British, Irish and European meat sector last year could easily happen again.

Because it was a criminal act, people in the meat and food sector willing to break the law to cut corners and try to make easy money could adopt similar tactics again in adulterating food products.

This was the message from a panel of food industry experts at the Foodex exhibition in the UK this week.

Despite increased testing of products, shorter supply chains and more checks on food production methods, the pressure to produce food more and more cheaply could foster further criminal acts the panel agreed.

In Russia this week the meat industry has revealed that the ban on imports of European pig meat is putting pressure on the pig meat processing sector.

Since February imports have gone down by around 15 per cent and prices of raw materials have risen by 10 per cent.

Now the Russian meat sector is trying to source pork from other exporters including Brazil, the USA and Canada.

However, there is concern in Russia over the effect that the outbreak of porcine epidemic diarrhoea is having on pig meat and its production in the US and Canada.

The outbreak is hitting production and reducing numbers going to slaughter according to analyst reports from North America.