Britain's Horse Meat Burger Scandal

Britain’s Horse Meat Burger Scandal

Posted by Lynda on February 8th, 2013 (Health)

Britain’s horse meat burger food scandal shows how the supply chain management in the food industry can break down in a worrying way.

I am originally from the UK so I have been following the food scandal that has been going on in Britain for the last few weeks with interest.

Initially, the UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) tested economy brand beef burgers sold in the Tesco and Iceland supermarkets in the UK, and in Aldi, Lidl and Dunnes Stores in Ireland and found they contained 29% horse meat. The FSA also tested Findus brand beef mince lasagne which came out as almost 100% horse meat, and ordered Findus to test the lasagne for the veterinary drug phenylbutazone.

This week the scandal has deepened after it was found that the burgers also contained pork DNA. Other companies who also buy burgers from the same supplier including Burger King, the Co Op and Asda carried out independent tests and have removed many burger lines from their stores.

As the British Telegraph reports, action is being taken quickly. The supplier has been shut down, Tesco will be DNA testing all of their meat products in future and more stringent controls on suppliers will be put in place. Yet the fact these products were being sold in so many places, under numerous well known brands, containing 3 different meats and are also being tested for veterinary drugs is an alarming break down in the food supply chain management.

Thankfully there have been no such scares here in Australia and hopefully there will never be in the future. Yet it does highlight the importance of food traceability and accountability, and the fact that Australia must continue to maintain its high standards.

Of course preparing your own food from fresh ingredients is the best way to really know what is in the food you eat. Ready meals and processed foods are never as wholesome or as nutritional as the food you prepare yourself, and are usually full of excess salt, sugar, preservatives and flavour enhancers too. Fresh is best when it comes to a healthy, nutritional diet.

By Lynda Hamilton

Lynda Hamilton is an Accredited Practicing Dietitian and Accredited Nutritionist BSc, BHSc (N&D) at Hamilton Dietetics based in Sydney. If you would like to speak to a dietitian in Sydney, get in touch with Lynda. You will also find fact sheets and diet advice videos on her website.