Food testing facility decline is concern from horse meat review
The government must keep the issue under review and ensure there are sufficient resources available, according to the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee report.
Tests across EU Member States found 4.66% of products tested contained over 1% horse DNA.
“We are concerned about the declining number of public analysts and of public laboratories for carrying out food testing,” said the committee in the report.
“If they fall much further, food samples will have to be sent abroad for testing. This is likely to result in increased costs and fewer samples being submitted.”
The committee was reporting its findings after evidence given on the issue which led to 5,430 industry test results up to 1 March revealing 44 positive tests for horse meat above 1%.
Evidence of fraud
Evidence suggested that contamination was a result of fraud by industry seeking to make a profit and able to do so despite food traceability requirements, said committee chair Anne McIntosh.
The report added that it was “disappointing” that no prosecutions have yet been brought in either the UK or in Ireland, where the horse meat contamination was first identified.
“We are concerned at the failure of authorities in both the UK and Ireland to acknowledge the extent of this and to bring prosecutions.
“We are dismayed at the slow pace of investigations and would like assurance that prosecutions will be mounted where there is evidence of fraud or other illegal activity.”
FSA stung
The committee also slammed the amount of time the process took and the role of the Food Standards Agency (FSA).
“It should not in future consider it acceptable to wait six weeks for a final confirmation of adulteration from one of our closest neighbours before acting itself,” said the report.
“There has been a lack of clarity about the responsibility of the FSA in this incident. This must be rectified.”
The government should consider whether this might be achieved by reversing changes made in 2010 and allowing the FSA to be one step removed from the two government departments it reports to, so a swifter response could be achieved, recommended the report.
The FSA has a board meeting today (Tuesday 16 July) where a response to the external review of the horse meat incident by Professor Pat Troop will be given.
Professor Troop gave four recommendations to the agency adding that it acted with some “hesitancy” and confusion over whether the FSA or DEFRA should take the lead on the issue.
Bute results “surprising”
The committee also said it was “surprised” at the number of positive tests for phenylbutazone (bute), adding it is a “cause for concern” because there are too many loopholes in the present system of issuing horse passports.
In separate EU-mandated tests for the presence of the substance in horses slaughtered for human consumption, the UK had the largest number of positive results.
