This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-21495300

The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Horsemeat row: Owen Paterson set for talks with retailers Horsemeat scandal: Owen Paterson meeting retailers
(about 13 hours later)
The environment secretary is set to meet food retailers and trade bodies later to establish what is being done to restore consumer confidence. The environment secretary is set to meet food retailers and trade bodies later to establish what is being done to restore consumer confidence in the wake of the horsemeat scandal.
Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury's and Morrisons are among those set to attend the meeting with Owen Paterson. Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury's and Morrisons are among those meeting Owen Paterson.
Meanwhile, some 24% of 2,257 UK adults surveyed by Consumer Intelligence have said they will buy less processed meat. Downing Street said it was "the responsibility of the retailers and the meat industry" to rebuild trust.
And 21% said they buy less meat in general, and 62% were more likely to buy their meat from independent shops. Meanwhile, some 24% of 2,257 UK adults surveyed by Consumer Intelligence said they would buy less processed meat.
The Drink Federation, and the Institute of Grocery Distribution are among other groups set to take part in talks with Mr Paterson in Westminster on Monday afternoon. And 21% said they had already started buying less meat in general because of the horsemeat scandal, while 62% said they were more likely to buy their meat from independent shops.
A Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) spokeswoman said the meeting would allow Mr Paterson to get an update on testing results and find out more about what businesses are doing to restore consumer confidence. 'Deep-clean'
On Sunday, speaking on the BBC's Andrew Marr Show, Iceland supermarket's chief executive, Malcolm Walker, said the "problem really lies" with councils buying food from the poorly supplied catering industry. The scandal emerged in mid-January, when Irish food inspectors announced they had found horsemeat in some frozen beefburgers stocked by UK supermarkets including Tesco, Iceland and Lidl.
Retailers should not be blamed for the horsemeat crisis, Mr Walker added. A number of stores and suppliers across Europe have since removed products labelled as beef after test results revealed they contained varying quantities of horsemeat - in some cases up to 100%.
His comments followed a call on Sunday from the boss of Waitrose for tighter meat testing controls. The Drink Federation and the Institute of Grocery Distribution are among other groups due to take part in the talks with Mr Paterson in Westminster.
A Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) spokeswoman said the meeting would allow Mr Paterson to get an update on testing results and find out more about what businesses are doing to restore confidence among UK consumers.
A spokeswoman for Downing Street said: "There is a job to try to address consumer confidence. That is the responsibility of the retailers and the meat industry."
Earlier it emerged that the supplier of an Asda bolognese sauce that had been removed from shelves had restarted full production at its Bristol site, following a "deep-clean" at the weekend.
Greencore, which makes chilled food and own-brand sandwiches for some UK supermarkets, said all other products from its factory had tested negative for horse DNA.
In France, AFP reported that meat-processing company Spanghero - which was suspended after being accused of knowingly selling horsemeat as beef - had its licence partially renewed, enabling it to produce minced meat, sausages and ready meals, but not frozen meat.
'Cheap food''Cheap food'
Iceland was among UK retailers, including Tesco, Asda, Lidl and Aldi, which withdrew products found to test positive for horse DNA. Speaking on the BBC's Andrew Marr Show on Sunday, Iceland supermarket's chief executive, Malcolm Walker, blamed local councils for driving down food quality in pursuit of cheap food contracts for schools and hospitals.
After Iceland removed a line of quarter-pounder beefburgers last month, it said it "would be working closely with its suppliers" to ensure its products met "high standards of quality and integrity". Retailers could not be held responsible for the horsemeat scandal, he added.
Mr Walker told the BBC supermarkets were already extremely transparent about food quality and testing. Mr Walker said: "If we're going to blame somebody let's start with local authorities, because there's a whole side to this industry which is invisible - that's the catering industry.
"If we're going to blame somebody let's start with local authorities, because there's a whole side to this industry which is invisible - that's the catering industry. Schools, hospitals - it's massive business for cheap food and local authorities award contracts based purely on one thing - price," he said. "Schools, hospitals - it's massive business for cheap food and local authorities award contracts based purely on one thing - price."
He added: "Iceland has never sold economy products - we do not sell cheap food... we know where all our food comes from, we follow the supply chain right the way through and it's very short."He added: "Iceland has never sold economy products - we do not sell cheap food... we know where all our food comes from, we follow the supply chain right the way through and it's very short."
Supermarkets were not the real culprits in "driving down food quality", he said. "Dodgy cutting houses and backstreet manufacturers have been supplying products to the catering industry and a lot of that is bought by local authorities for schools and hospitals - that's where the problem really lies," he said.
"Dodgy cutting houses and backstreet manufacturers have been supplying products to the catering industry and a lot of that is bought by local authorities for schools and hospitals - that's where the problem really lies," he added. Iceland was among UK retailers, including Tesco, Asda, Lidl and Aldi, which withdrew products found to test positive for horse DNA.
Merrick Cockell, chairman of the LGA, said the relationship between a council and a caterer was the same as that between a retailer and a consumer. Merrick Cockell, chairman of the Local Government Association, which represents local authorities, said the relationship between a council and a caterer was the same as that between a retailer and a consumer.
"We have a contract with that retailer to provide us with what it says on the wrapper and that is exactly the same with local government providing contracts for school meals or, indeed, the NHS with hospitals. "We have a contract with that retailer to provide us with what it says on the wrapper, and that is exactly the same with local government providing contracts for school meals or, indeed, the NHS with hospitals.
"Clearly in some cases, relatively few cases, that has not been happening and actually for the boss of Iceland to appear and make that suggestion... well I hope he knows more about what's actually going on in retailing than he clearly does in contracting and local government.""Clearly in some cases, relatively few cases, that has not been happening and actually for the boss of Iceland to appear and make that suggestion... well I hope he knows more about what's actually going on in retailing than he clearly does in contracting and local government."
A Local Authorities Caterers Association spokeswoman said it was "disappointed" with Mr Walker's remarks.A Local Authorities Caterers Association spokeswoman said it was "disappointed" with Mr Walker's remarks.
"Local authorities across the country have been totally supportive of driving food standards up in schools over the last few years," she told BBC News."Local authorities across the country have been totally supportive of driving food standards up in schools over the last few years," she told BBC News.