Fraud and safety concerns prompt meat recall in South East

Restaurants, cafes and hotels in London and the South East have been ordered to remove meat and meat products from sale produced by Kent-based Block and Cleaver.

According to the Food Standards Agency (FSA), the beef, pork and chicken meat and meat products affected could be subject to traceability breaches.

See also: Exclusive: Mass food fraud and safety scandal engulfs sector

They may also have incorrect use-by dates, not have been manufactured in accordance with food safety management systems and be unsafe.

The FSA declined to say whether its alert had come as a result of a tip off from the new food crime hotline, set up in the wake of Farmers Weekly’s meat scandal expose in 2023.

Earlier this year, head of the National Food Crime Unit (NFCU) Andrew Quinn said the number was receiving an increase in calls relevant to the National Food Crime Unit (NFCU) and FSA work, compared with the previous generic FSA number.

Tina Potter, head of incidents at the FSA, said: “Food businesses are the first line of defence in ensuring food is safe.

“The implicated products should not be eaten as there is a potential food safety risk from incorrect use-by dates and food safety management controls.

“There may also be breaches of traceability and hygiene requirements. Any business with these products should dispose of them safely.  

“The business has restarted production and there are some products that are not affected.”

Meat and meat products with use-by dates of 21 and 22 June 2024 have been recalled, but products not processed or repackaged by Block and Cleaver are not affected.

All products manufactured after production resumed on 20 June 2024 that have use-by dates of 23 June 2024 onwards are also considered safe.

Food businesses that have sold meat or meat products directly to consumers at retail have been ordered to undertake product recalls and inform their Local Authority, who will then inform the FSA.

Block and Cleaver were approached for comment.

More detail can be found in the latest FSA alert, issued on 25 June.

If you have any information on food crime in progress, you can report it using hotline number 0800 028 1180.