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Slaughterhouse and meat firm raided Horsemeat row: Slaughterhouse and meat firm raided
(about 1 hour later)
A slaughterhouse and a meat firm have been raided by police and food safety officials probing alleged mislabelling of horsemeat as beef. A slaughterhouse and a meat firm have been raided by police and officials probing alleged horsemeat mislabelling.
Peter Boddy Licensed Slaughterhouse, in West Yorkshire, and Farmbox Meats Ltd, Aberystwyth, have had work suspended. Peter Boddy Licensed Slaughterhouse, in Todmorden, West Yorkshire, and Farmbox Meats Ltd, of Llandre near Aberystwyth, have had work suspended.
Environment Secretary Owen Paterson said it was unacceptable if UK firms were defrauding the public.Environment Secretary Owen Paterson said it was unacceptable if UK firms were defrauding the public.
Meanwhile, Waitrose withdrew its Essential British Frozen Beef Meatballs after pork was detected in two batches.Meanwhile, Waitrose withdrew its Essential British Frozen Beef Meatballs after pork was detected in two batches.
They are the latest product to be withdrawn from UK shelves.
The Food Standards Agency suspended operations at both the raided premises, detained all meat found and seized paperwork, including customer lists from the two companies.The Food Standards Agency suspended operations at both the raided premises, detained all meat found and seized paperwork, including customer lists from the two companies.
The West Yorkshire plant was thought to have supplied horse carcasses to the Aberystwyth plant, which were then allegedly sold on as beef for kebabs and burgers.The West Yorkshire plant was thought to have supplied horse carcasses to the Aberystwyth plant, which were then allegedly sold on as beef for kebabs and burgers.
Both West Yorkshire and Dyfed-Powys police entered the premises with the FSA.Both West Yorkshire and Dyfed-Powys police entered the premises with the FSA.
Mr Paterson said: "This is absolutely shocking. It's totally unacceptable if any business in the UK is defrauding the public by passing off horsemeat as beef. Peter Boddy said he was co-operating with the FSA officers who were "welcome to visit whenever they want".
He confirmed he slaughters horses at his plant and the meat is sold in the UK.
Mr Paterson said of the latest developments: "This is absolutely shocking. It's totally unacceptable if any business in the UK is defrauding the public by passing off horsemeat as beef.
"I expect the full force of the law to be brought down on anyone involved in this kind of activity.""I expect the full force of the law to be brought down on anyone involved in this kind of activity."
'Integrity essential''Integrity essential'
FSA director of operation Andrew Rhodes said: "I ordered an audit of all horse-producing abattoirs in the UK after this issue first arose last month, and I was shocked to uncover what appears to be a blatant misleading of consumers.FSA director of operation Andrew Rhodes said: "I ordered an audit of all horse-producing abattoirs in the UK after this issue first arose last month, and I was shocked to uncover what appears to be a blatant misleading of consumers.
Until now, ministers have portrayed the horsemeat scandal as a labelling issue which emanated from the continent.
On the day Environment Secretary Owen Paterson yet again defended his handling of the crisis, the problem moved much closer to home.
The first raids implicating British firms in allegations of horse trading, albeit of carcasses, will certainly pile further pressure on Mr Paterson to calm fears.
While he has talked of criminal elements being involved, the finger so far has been pointed at culprits elsewhere in Europe for causing products here to be contaminated.
There will be more questions for the independent regulator, the Food Standards Agency, about its role in food safety.
Neither the FSA nor Defra can yet give clear assurances to consumers who are worried about the provenance of the products they eat, although they insist there is not a health risk.
Q&A: Horsemeat scandal
"I have suspended both plants immediately while our investigations continue.""I have suspended both plants immediately while our investigations continue."
The Welsh minister for agriculture, Alun Davies, said: "Integrity and trust are essential in the food chain. I would be appalled if these allegations are proven.The Welsh minister for agriculture, Alun Davies, said: "Integrity and trust are essential in the food chain. I would be appalled if these allegations are proven.
"The Welsh Government is working closely with Defra (Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) and the FSA to ensure this matter is dealt with swiftly and decisively.""The Welsh Government is working closely with Defra (Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) and the FSA to ensure this matter is dealt with swiftly and decisively."
The latest developments came as Mr Paterson held another meeting with the FSA, supermarkets and food producers to discuss the spreading horsemeat contamination scandal.The latest developments came as Mr Paterson held another meeting with the FSA, supermarkets and food producers to discuss the spreading horsemeat contamination scandal.
He told MPs during a Commons debate earlier that "too much is taken on trust" when it comes to verifying meat supplies.He told MPs during a Commons debate earlier that "too much is taken on trust" when it comes to verifying meat supplies.
Labour's Mary Creagh welcomed the FSA and police action.
At Waitrose, a spokeswoman said it had had "contradictory results" from tests on the frozen beef meatballs.At Waitrose, a spokeswoman said it had had "contradictory results" from tests on the frozen beef meatballs.
She said all had tested negative for horse DNA, but one test had indicated the presence of some pork.She said all had tested negative for horse DNA, but one test had indicated the presence of some pork.
"We have withdrawn two batches of these products as pork is not listed as a product in the recipe.""We have withdrawn two batches of these products as pork is not listed as a product in the recipe."
The products have a best before date of the end of June 13 and the end of August 13. The products are 480g packs of 16 meatballs with a best before date of the end of June 13 and the end of August 13.
The raids today uncovered the first suspected instance of a UK abattoir passing off horse meat for beef, Mr Paterson said.
It came after the National Beef Association (NBA) yesterday suggested the addition of the words "United Kingdom origin" to packaging to prevent "further cheating" by suppliers on the Continent.
The scandal has spread across Europe as details of the elaborate supply chain in the meat industry emerge.
French consumer safety authorities said companies from Romania, Cyprus and the Netherlands, as well as its own firms, were involved.
Mr Paterson will travel to Brussels on Wednesday to discuss the scandal with counterparts in EU countries.Mr Paterson will travel to Brussels on Wednesday to discuss the scandal with counterparts in EU countries.