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Horsemeat scandal: Owen Paterson meeting retailers Horsemeat scandal: Retailers champion consumer confidence
(about 1 hour later)
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. Food retailers are in agreement they must restore "consumer confidence" in the wake of the horsemeat scandal, the British Retail Consortium has said.
Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury's and Morrisons are among those meeting Owen Paterson. Director Helen Dickinson said they were taking their "responsibilities very seriously" and engaging with customers.
Downing Street said it was "the responsibility of the retailers and the meat industry" to rebuild trust. Earlier Environment Secretary Owen Paterson held talks with retailers, including Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury's and Morrisons.
Meanwhile, some 24% of 2,257 UK adults surveyed by Consumer Intelligence said they would buy less processed meat. Downing Street stressed it was up to the food industry to rebuild trust.
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. The Drink Federation and the Institute of Grocery Distribution are among other groups to have taken part in the talks with Mr Paterson in Westminster.
'Deep-clean'
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.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.
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%.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%.
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. 'Engage with customers'
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. Speaking to BBC News, Ms Dickinson described it as a "positive meeting" during which there was "complete agreement from everybody in the room that restoring consumer confidence" was vital.
She said retailers were addressing the crisis by communicating with customers "on a day-to-day basis", updating training for staff, and trying to establish the causes of failures in the supply chain through further testing.
In a separate statement, she revealed that the "vast majority" of testing ordered by the Food Standards Agency would be completed by Friday.
"We were very pleased that the secretary of state recognised the hard work of retailers in progressing their testing programmes so quickly," she said.
"Retailers take their responsibilities very seriously and are doing everything they can to maintain consumer confidence and increase surveillance."
She added: "Our top priority is to continue to engage with our customers and reassure them that we have effective solutions to the issues that have come to light."
A Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) spokeswoman earlier said the meeting would allow Mr Paterson to get an update on testing results and find out more about what businesses are doing to rebuild trust among UK consumers.
'Deep clean'
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."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. It emerged on Monday 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.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.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' Meanwhile, 24% of 2,257 UK adults surveyed by Consumer Intelligence said they would buy less processed meat.
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. 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.
Retailers could not be held responsible for the horsemeat scandal, he added.
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.
"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."
"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.
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 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.
"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.
"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.