The Food Standards Agency (FSA) is leveraging a range of artificial intelligence technologies to enhance its operations, including frontline inspections.

According to Andrew Gwynne, who previously served as a minister in the Department of Health and Social Care but has since been removed and suspended from the Labour party over offensive WhatsApp messages, the FSA is utilising both traditional and generative AI for various purposes.

This includes trials of generative AI technologies for use by inspectors examining companies that provide or prepare food. Gwynne explained, “For generative AI, we are piloting its use in our front-line services in the field by using mobile-based AI applications. The goal is to streamline our inspection of meat businesses by having AI help collate notes during the inspection process, which will allow uniformity in reporting and improve data quality.

We aim for this to improve the existing method, which involves inspectors carrying large amounts of equipment while taking written, paper-based observations.”

Additionally, generative systems are being used in the internal operations of the food regulator. Gwynne added, “We have also deployed generative AI tools to improve data quality. As most data from national and international food alert systems is unstructured text, considerable human effort has been required to extract the relevant information and then categorise it to a standardised format.

The aim is to reduce the manual work required in improving data quality, which will allow colleagues to spend more time deriving insights from data rather than cleaning data, while also improving the speediness of the response.”

Original story: publictechnology.net

Bolivian meat producers are facing daily losses of approximately USD 500,000 following the government’s ban on beef exports.

The National Chamber of Exporters of Bolivia (Caneb) has raised concerns, highlighting the significant impact on cattle farmers, particularly in the eastern regions. The ban, announced by Productive Development Minister Néstor Huanca, aims to regulate supply and reduce domestic meat prices.

In 2024, meat exports generated USD 185 million, up from USD 136 million in 2023, despite various challenges. Caneb Manager Marcelo Olguín warned that the economy risks losing over USD 200 million, urging the government to engage in dialogue to avoid damaging Bolivia’s market reputation.

Economy Minister Marcelo Montenegro stated that exports could resume once local prices stabilise. Vice-Minister of Agricultural Development Álvaro Mollinedo emphasised the need to prioritise food safety, citing rising meat prices and reduced supply. The government has pointed to private producers as contributing to the price increases and shortages.

Original story: MercoPress

Dog Food Made from Cultivated Meat Goes on Sale in the UK

Meatly has launched “chick bites,” the first pet food products made from cultivated meat to be sold commercially worldwide. This innovation could potentially eliminate farm animals from the pet food industry and significantly reduce carbon emissions, land use, and water consumption.

Trial Launch

The trial of these dog treats began at a pet store in Brentford, London, on Friday. Owen Ensor, the founder of Meatly, explained that the manufacturing process resembles brewing beer. “You take cells from a single chicken egg. From that, we can create an infinite amount of meat forevermore. We put it in large, steel fermenters… and after a week, we’re able to harvest healthy, delicious chicken for our pets,” Ensor said.

Global Perspective

Lab-grown meat, genetically indistinguishable from traditionally produced meat, has sparked debate in various countries. In 2020, Singapore became the first country to authorize the sale of cell-cultivated meat for human consumption, followed by the United States three years later. However, Italy and the US states of Alabama and Florida have banned it.

Environmental and Ethical Considerations

Advocates emphasize the environmental benefits of lab-grown meat, while critics argue that it is expensive and could harm traditional farming. Prof. Guy Poppy from the University of Bristol noted that lab-grown meat addresses animal welfare concerns. He added, “This is an opportunity to offer the advantages of meat but without the carbon and environmental footprint.”

Pet Consumption

Prof. Andrew Knight from the University of Winchester highlighted that “about 20% of all the meat consumed by high pet-owning nations, including the United Kingdom, is actually consumed by pets, not people.”

Original story: BBC News

Meatex

World’s First Cultivated Meat Dog Treats Launched at Pets at Home

Pets at Home has introduced a groundbreaking dog treat made from cultivated meat, marking a world first for the retailer. The treat, named Chick Bites, combines plant-based ingredients with cultivated meat, which is produced by growing cells without the need to raise or slaughter animals.

Meatly, the company behind Chick Bites, explained that the chicken used in the treats was derived from a single sample of cells taken from one chicken egg. This method allows for the production of enough cultivated meat to feed pets indefinitely.

The company claims that the cultivated meat is just as tasty and nutritious as traditional chicken breast, containing all the essential amino acids, critical fatty acids, minerals, and vitamins necessary for pet health.

In a significant regulatory milestone, the UK became the first country in Europe to approve the use of cultivated meat in pet food. This approval, granted in July by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Animal and Plant Health Agency, paved the way for Meatly’s innovative product to hit the shelves.

Original story: The National 

German Pig Prices Steady Amid Contained Foot-and-Mouth Outbreak

HAMBURG, Feb 5 (Reuters) – German pig prices remained stable over the past week, as hopes rise that the recent foot-and-mouth disease outbreak has been contained, according to meat traders and industry groups.

The Livestock and Meat Production Association (VEZG) reported that German slaughterhouse pig prices held steady at 1.72 euros per kilo. This is a slight decrease from the approximately 1.82 euros per kilo before the outbreak was confirmed.

Germany reported its first case of foot-and-mouth disease in nearly 40 years on January 10, in a herd of water buffalo near Berlin. However, with no additional cases reported since, some emergency measures to control the disease have been lifted.

“The market is starting to dare to hope that no more outbreaks will occur and that meat exports within the EU will continue,” said one German meat trader.

This cautious optimism reflects the industry’s efforts to manage the outbreak and maintain stability in the market.

Original story: Reuters

Illegal Meat Seizures at Port of Dover Surge in 2024

Nearly 100 tonnes of illegal meat were seized at the Port of Dover in 2024, according to new data. The confiscated meat, which included pork, lamb, beef, and chicken, totalled 98,958kg across 868 separate seizures. This represents a significant increase of over 75% compared to the 56,089kg seized in 2023.

The Dover Port Health Authority has expressed concerns about the potential for diseased meat to enter the food chain. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has reiterated its commitment to protecting the UK’s biosecurity, stating that the government would “never waver” in this duty.

The data, obtained through a Freedom of Information request, highlights a dramatic rise in seizures from previous years. In 2022, only 3,899kg of meat were seized in 27 incidents. Additionally, the first week of January 2025 alone saw 10 tonnes of meat confiscated at the port.

Lucy Manzano of the Dover Port Health Authority noted that most of the seizures resulted from spot checks. “Pulling vehicles over, it’s from those vehicles that we’re finding these huge and increasing volumes of illegal meat that is heading for our high streets,” she said.

This surge in illegal meat seizures underscores the ongoing efforts to safeguard public health and maintain the integrity of the UK’s food supply chain.

Original story: BBC Kent

China’s customs authority significantly increased its rejections of imported meat in 2024, with the number of rejected shipments more than tripling compared to previous years. This surge has raised questions about whether there were genuine issues with the meat shipments or if the rejections were a strategic effort to support domestic meat producers.

According to monthly reports from the Chinese customs website, a total of 778 shipments of beef, pork, chicken, lamb, and deer meat were turned away at the border last year. This figure is a stark contrast to previous years, where the number of rejections never exceeded 300 since the customs administration took over inspections in 2018.

The increase in rejections was observed across all types of meat, with beef and pork seeing the most significant spikes. Beef rejections soared to 435 shipments, up from the usual 60 to 80, while pork rejections rose to 186 from the previous range of 40 to 70. Chicken rejections saw a smaller increase, from 86 to 112 shipments, and lamb rejections, though fewer in number, have been steadily rising, reaching 43 last year.

Despite the high number of rejections, the total weight of the rejected shipments was 5,633 metric tons, which is just 0.08% of China’s total meat imports of 6.7 million metric tons in 2024. Pork shipments made up about half of the rejected weight, with most containers ranging from 20 to 27 metric tons, while beef shipments were generally smaller, often between 10 to 1,000 kilograms.

China’s rejections affected meat imports from numerous countries. Australia faced the highest number of beef rejections with 144 shipments, while Denmark had the most pork rejections at 101 shipments. Brazil led in chicken rejections, and New Zealand accounted for more than half of the rejected lamb shipments.

Notable increases in rejections were seen for imports from Australia, the European Union, Brazil, Argentina, and the USA. The United States had 43 beef, 37 pork, and 17 chicken shipments rejected.

Denmark’s pork rejections were particularly striking, as nearly all came from a prominent company, marking a significant increase from just 10 rejections over the previous five years.

This surge in rejections has impacted all leading meat companies in Europe, North America, and South America, highlighting the stringent measures China has adopted in its import inspections.

Original story by Dim Sums

In a significant operation, Greater Manchester Police have arrested three individuals following a raid at an abattoir in Stockport.

The raid, which took place on Thursday, was part of a coordinated effort that also saw a simultaneous warrant executed at a residential property on Merlin Road in Blackburn, Lancashire.

Among those arrested were a man and a woman, both in their 30s, who were detained on suspicion of human trafficking and offences related to slavery, servitude, and forced or compulsory labour. Additionally, another man in his 30s was apprehended at the abattoir after attempting to evade police by fleeing the site and hiding on a nearby roof. GMP confirmed that the man, an Albanian national, was living and working illegally in the UK and is now being processed by Home Office immigration teams.

The operation was prompted by allegations from a man who claimed he was forced to live in the abattoir and work around the clock to repay “extortionate debts” linked to a sponsorship visa and travel expenses. During the late-night raid, officers interviewed 30 workers on-site and seized mobile phones, computer equipment, and documentation as part of their ongoing investigation.

Detective Sergeant Lee Attenborough highlighted the prevalence of modern slavery in Greater Manchester and urged victims or those who suspect someone they know might be affected to come forward. “You will always be taken seriously, and protection and support are available,” he assured.

The investigation continues as authorities work to uncover the full extent of the alleged human trafficking and forced labour activities.

BBC News