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Horsemeat scandal: Minister blames 'incompetence or conspiracy' Horsemeat scandal: 'Tougher testing' by retailers ordered
(about 2 hours later)
The presence of horsemeat in beef products was due to "incompetence" or an international criminal "conspiracy", the environment secretary has said. Retailers will have to carry out "more and tougher testing" of beef products in the wake of widespread horsemeat contamination, the environment secretary says.
It comes after Owen Paterson met retailers and the Food Standards Agency to ask how "beef" products containing up to 100% horsemeat were sold. Test results - to check contents and description match - will be published every three months by the Food Standards Agency, Owen Patterson said.
He said the presence of horsemeat was due to "incompetence" or an international criminal "conspiracy".
Tests are already under way.
Aldi and Findus withdrew products days ago, while Tesco, Iceland and Lidl acted earlier.
Mr Paterson met retailers, food producer groups and the Food Standards Agency on Saturday to ask how "beef" products containing up to 100% horsemeat were sold.
He said he hoped for "meaningful results" on Friday from tests ordered on all processed beef products.He said he hoped for "meaningful results" on Friday from tests ordered on all processed beef products.
Aldi, Tesco and Findus have all withdrawn certain products. Following the meeting he said it was "totally unacceptable" that horsemeat had been found in "beef".
Following his meeting with retailers and the FSA, Mr Paterson said it was "totally unacceptable" that horsemeat was found in products labelled as beef. "There has either been gross incompetence in some of these cases or a criminal international conspiracy.
Referring to questions over how the horsemeat entered products labelled as beef, he said: "There has either been gross incompetence in some of these cases or a criminal international conspiracy.
"We are completely determined, all of us, to get to the bottom of this. So, perhaps there may well be more bad news.""We are completely determined, all of us, to get to the bottom of this. So, perhaps there may well be more bad news."
The environment secretary said he wants to see more testing within the existing regime.The environment secretary said he wants to see more testing within the existing regime.
However, he made it clear that the ultimate responsibility for this lies with supermarkets and shop chains. "People should have absolute confidence in what they are buying. The responsibility for that lies with the retailers, who need to be absolutely sure that what they're selling is what they think it is.
"We agreed that more and tougher testing will take place. I asked them to agree to publish test results every three months through the Food Standards Agency. I made it very clear that there needs to be openness and transparency in the system for the benefit of consumers."
The FSA has said it was "highly likely" criminal activity was to blame for the contamination while the Met Police has said it will not launch an investigation "unless it becomes clear there has been any criminality".The FSA has said it was "highly likely" criminal activity was to blame for the contamination while the Met Police has said it will not launch an investigation "unless it becomes clear there has been any criminality".
Morrisons boss Dalton Philips, speaking outside the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) before the meeting, said the supply chain had become "far too complex". Morrisons boss Dalton Philips, speaking outside the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs before the meeting, said the supply chain had become "far too complex".
"There is a role for testing and we're very supportive of the testing regime but it's a moment in time," he said."There is a role for testing and we're very supportive of the testing regime but it's a moment in time," he said.
"The truth is you've got to know your farmer, you've got to know where your meat's being processed.""The truth is you've got to know your farmer, you've got to know where your meat's being processed."
Labour leader Ed Miliband said in a statement that, "after the immediate issues, we need to understand how it happened and what needs doing to ensure it doesn't happen again".Labour leader Ed Miliband said in a statement that, "after the immediate issues, we need to understand how it happened and what needs doing to ensure it doesn't happen again".
"The job of government is to grip the situation and give families the reassurance they are after."
Meanwhile, it has emerged that Findus knew about horsemeat in its products for a week before it told the FSA.Meanwhile, it has emerged that Findus knew about horsemeat in its products for a week before it told the FSA.
The company has admitted that test results from 29 January showed traces of horsemeat in its beef products.The company has admitted that test results from 29 January showed traces of horsemeat in its beef products.
At that point, it stopped taking the products from French supplier Comigel and stopped sending them to retailers.At that point, it stopped taking the products from French supplier Comigel and stopped sending them to retailers.
More thorough testing was carried out - including the DNA testing of raw material at Comigel's factory - and the results were confirmed on Wednesday. The FSA was informed that same day.More thorough testing was carried out - including the DNA testing of raw material at Comigel's factory - and the results were confirmed on Wednesday. The FSA was informed that same day.
The head of Findus France has said the company believes it was defrauded and will being legal proceedings in the French courts on Monday.The head of Findus France has said the company believes it was defrauded and will being legal proceedings in the French courts on Monday.
Findus UK also issued a statement: "The early results from Findus UK's internal investigation strongly suggests that the horsemeat contamination in beef lasagne was not accidental."
Meanwhile, the French company Spanghero, which sold horsemeat to the company that made the ready meals, alleged it in turn had been defrauded by its supplier.Meanwhile, the French company Spanghero, which sold horsemeat to the company that made the ready meals, alleged it in turn had been defrauded by its supplier.
'Let people down''Let people down'
"The meat was labelled beef," said Barthelemy Aguerre, company president, adding that Spanghero would sue."The meat was labelled beef," said Barthelemy Aguerre, company president, adding that Spanghero would sue.
The FSA said Findus had tested the meat in 18 of its beef lasagne products and found 11 meals in which it contained between 60% and 100% horsemeat.The FSA said Findus had tested the meat in 18 of its beef lasagne products and found 11 meals in which it contained between 60% and 100% horsemeat.
Findus has taken out space in a number of national newspapers, in which it updates customers and says it is "sorry that we have let people down".Findus has taken out space in a number of national newspapers, in which it updates customers and says it is "sorry that we have let people down".
Responding to newspaper reports that the company was aware of problems last year, Findus said in a statement: "Findus want to be absolutely explicit that they were not aware of any issue of contamination with horsemeat last year."Responding to newspaper reports that the company was aware of problems last year, Findus said in a statement: "Findus want to be absolutely explicit that they were not aware of any issue of contamination with horsemeat last year."
The company added that it had not been invited to the Defra summit but that it was a member of the Food and Drink Federation, which has been invited. The company is a member of the Food and Drink Federation, which attended the Saturday meeting.
'Very shocking'
Mr Paterson told BBC News he would not comment on Findus until he had a full report from the FSA but added that, "if any retailer knowingly has products which are mislabelled, that is very wrong."Mr Paterson told BBC News he would not comment on Findus until he had a full report from the FSA but added that, "if any retailer knowingly has products which are mislabelled, that is very wrong."
On Friday, supermarket chain Aldi said tests on its Today's Special Frozen Beef Lasagne and Today's Special Frozen Spaghetti Bolognese showed they contained between 30% and 100% horsemeat. He also said that retailers and industry bodies had agreed at the meeting to let the FSA know as soon they become aware of a potential problem with their products.
These had already been withdrawn after the warning from Comigel.
In other related developments:
The controversy surrounding contamination of meat products has also affected firms in the UK, Irish Republic, Poland and France.The controversy surrounding contamination of meat products has also affected firms in the UK, Irish Republic, Poland and France.
Last month, Irish food inspectors announced they had found horsemeat in some burgers stocked by a number of UK supermarket chains, including Tesco, Iceland and Lidl.Last month, Irish food inspectors announced they had found horsemeat in some burgers stocked by a number of UK supermarket chains, including Tesco, Iceland and Lidl.
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