AIMS calls for Government to place FSA into special measures
The Association of Independent Meat Suppliers (AIMS) has called for the Food Standards Agency to be placed into ’special measures’ after reports of food fraud at a processor supplying major supermarkets.
During questions to the Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs ministers at Westminster this morning the Secretary of State, Dr Terese Coffey indicated, in an answer to questions from Robert Goodwill MP and Alex Sobel MP that that there may now be a case for the FSA to no longer be a non ministerial department and be brought into Defra.
“The FSA and many of it’s senior management have been ‘marking their own homework’ for way too long” said Norman Bagley, head of policy at AIMS.
“I am of the view if, in December 2022, the time the National Food Crimes Unit (NFCU) informed the FSA that they were investigating an alleged case of labelling fraud and that 1.3 million pieces of paper were involved, that this indicated something way occurring at the site beyond country of origin mis-labelling” he continued.
“Surely some alarm bells should have rung and the basic question of ‘Is there any risk at this FBO to human health?’ should have been asked.
“No one has ever died from eating mis-labelled meat but rotten meat, yes, listeria, yes, e-coli, yes.”
Alex Black | Farmers Guardian
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