Government issues warning on meat labels

01 April 1999

Government issues warning on meat labels

By FWi staff

THE government has told the meat industry to improve its labelling standards after tests revealed that nearly one in six dishes contained undeclared types of meat.

Pork was detected in beef sausages and pies, turkey in chicken products and chicken in pork products, according to a Ministry of Agriculture survey.

Big retailers and manufacturers, including the main supermarkets, were among companies alleged to have failed to acknowledge all ingredients.

The British Meat Manufacturers Association condemned the “name and shame” policy as unfair and meaningless.

Some of the companies criticised the accuracy of the tests which were carried out in January 1998.

The tests suggested that 83 samples from 570 products collected from a range of retailers failed to properly identify the species of meats detected in them.

See also:

• The Independent 01/04/99 page 9
  
• The Guardian 01/04/99 page 11