East Ayrshire Council Explores In-House Butchery Proposal
East Ayrshire Council Considers In-House Butcher to Boost School Meal Quality
EAST AYRSHIRE, SCOTLAND – June 6, 2025 – East Ayrshire Council is exploring a proposal to establish its own in-house butchery department, an initiative aimed at simultaneously cutting costs and enhancing the quality of school meals across the region.
The innovative idea has been put forward by Conservative Councillor John McFadzean. He argues that by purchasing whole animals and undertaking the butchering process internally, the council could produce healthier meat products for school canteens.
Councillor McFadzean believes this approach would lead to hamburgers, hot dogs, sausages, and pies with significantly fewer preservatives and lower fat content.
While council officers acknowledged the potential benefits that such a move could bring, they also raised concerns regarding the practical feasibility of directly operating a council-run butchery department. Instead, officers suggested that a collaborative approach involving the business sector might be a more viable alternative.
East Ayrshire Council is already actively investing in the food and drink industry, including the development of a production facility that features a dedicated butchery kitchen. This investment forms part of the broader Ayrshire Manufacturing Investment Corridor (AMIC) project, indicating an existing commitment to supporting local food production and processing capabilities. The debate now continues on the most effective way to integrate fresh, high-quality meat into the local school meal programme.
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