Arrests as four tonnes of illegal meat seized

Four men have been arrested after illegal meat was seized during a police raid of an unapproved meat cutting plant in Dudley.

Approximately four-and-a-quarter tonnes of meat was subsequently removed from the market.

The Food Standards Agency (FSCA) and its National Food Crime Unit (NFCU) are working with local authorities to trace illegal meat and clear it from shelves.

Will Simpson, Regional Intelligence Officer at the FSA's NFCU, said the operation was part of ongoing work to disrupt the trade, adding that a criminal investigation had been launched.

The joint operation involved the NFCU, which worked with West Midlands Police, HMRC and representatives from the Home Office.

According to the FSA, meat illegally placed into the food chain bypasses the rigorous safety and hygiene checks required in the UK, meaning it can carry diseases and contaminants that can put consumers at risk.

Certain activities must be approved by the authorities to ensure that food safety is maintained.

"The sale of illegal meat bypasses the strict safety and hygiene standards that are in place to protect consumers, making enforcement action like this vital", councillor Patrick Harley said.

"I would like to thank all the agencies involved for their collaborative work. We will continue to work with partners to take robust action against anyone operating outside the law and putting public safety at risk."

The FSA has issued a Food Alert for Action - an official notice which requires local enforcement or specific authority intervention.

It said enforcement action was taken by the local authority to address immediate food safety concerns.

"Food businesses must do their due diligence on their suppliers to ensure they meet their legal responsibilities to sell food that's safe and what it says it is," Simpson, at the NFCU, said.

"We remain vigilant to the threat of illegal meat entering the food chain and will continue to take action to protect the public."

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