New horsemeat report praised by Scottish government

Clearer insights into the food industry and the economics of the supply chain plus speculative surveys were essential to “identify where and when potential fraud may occur”,​ according to the report, Putting Food Safety First,​ published on Friday July 6.

Prepared by an expert advisory group led by former chief vet, professor Jim Scudamore, the report made a range of recommendations in five areas. Those included: the meat supply chain and fraud, the horsemeat incident and responses, risk impact, risk management and the communication of risk.

The report praised the Scottish response to the crisis. “A key aspect of the response was local delivery and the ability of local authorities to respond across Scotland in a coordinated manner,”​ said the report. “This is a significant benefit of existing arrangements and despite there being 32 local authorities, the response was delivered in a coordinated manner.”​

Financial losses​

But it went on to describe as “major blows”​ the financial losses of disposing of potentially adulterated products and the damage to consumer confidence and food firms’ reputations. “While not a food safety issue, it has also raised wider concerns for consumers about the adequacy of controls over a complex supply chain,” ​said the report.

The costs of widespread testing also had a major financial impact. New methods needed to be developed to improve the sensitivity and specificity of the tests. “Tests must also be reproducible, reliable and provide rapid results, so that action can be taken with confidence by the enforcement agencies or industries themselves.”​

The horsemeat crisis​ showed the need for a sub-contract management plan and clear understanding of the sourcing and traceability of products. While shorter food supply chains should be used, this may not always be feasible, the report acknowledged.

Scudamore said: “The ability to identify potentially fraudulent behaviour and prevent it occurring is an important objective. Methods for the detection of fraud are equally important and if an issue such as horsemeat is detected, it is essential that contingency plans are in place to provide a rapid response to protect consumers.”​

Minister for public health, Michael Matheson, who commissioned the report, said it was reassuring that the report concluded that the crisis had been well-handled in Scotland, and that all parties had worked well together.

Improving surveillance​

But he added: “From developing a better understanding of the supply chain, to improving surveillance and consumer engagement, we must now work to make sure that we can deliver the best possible food standards and safety regime for Scotland.”​

The Food and Drink Federation (FDF) said it needed more time to study the findings. “The expert advisory group has produced a substantial and wide-ranging report, which we will need to consider in detail,” ​said Barbara Gallani, director of the FDF’s Regulatory, Science and Health Division.

“With other reviews at UK and EU level still to be completed, it is vitally important that industry and governments work together to develop a proportionate approach which is consistent across the UK.”​

Meanwhile, the food safety lessons of the horsemeat crisis will be just one of the subjects under discussion at Food Manufacture’s​ Food Safety Conference, to be staged at the National Motorcycle Museum in Birmingham on Thursday October 17th.

Andrew Rhodes, FSA operations director, Rene Crevel of Unilever and Sue Davies of Which? will join a host of other expert speakers to explain how you can protect your food and drink manufacturing business from a food safety crisis.

More details – including the discounted early bird tickets – are available here.