A Tesco spokeswoman told FoodManufacture.co.uk the discovery of the meat revealed the effectiveness of its DNA testing. “Our world class traceability and DNA testing system has recently highlighted three incidents where suppliers’ products have failed to meet our standards,” she said.
‘Production line error was responsible’
“They indicate the presence of chicken, turkey or lamb where it should not be present. Investigations into each incident have concluded that production line error was responsible and we have worked with suppliers to ensure their controls are effective and our stringent standards are met every time.”
In September 2013, the retail giant attracted widespread criticism after labelling a pork chop with the Red Tractor logo, as produced in Britain, when DNA tests revealed it was almost certainly supplied from a pig reared in the Netherlands.
Last week, Tesco’s new chief financial officer, Alan Stewart, joined the retailer three months ahead of schedule. The move follows the firm’s embarrassing admission it had overstated its half year profits by up to £250M and its decision to suspend four top executives, pending an independent financial probe.
Food safety conference
Meanwhile, the authenticity of food supply chains will come under scrutiny at the Food Manufacture Group’s one-day Food safety conference at the Heritage Motor Centre in Gaydon, Warwickshire on Wednesday, October 15 2014.
The conference – Safe and legal food in a changing world – now in its second year, will provide the latest food and drink safety information managers need to avoid safety recalls potentially costing many millions of pounds.
Taking part will be speakers from the Food Standards Agency (FSA), the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH), Society of Food Hygiene and Technology, Public Health England Newcastle, NSF International, Institute of Food Research, Bernard Matthews and others.
Chair of the conference – staged in association with our sister title The Grocer – will be Professor Colin Dennis, former director general Campden BRI and former president of the Institute of Food Science & Technology.
The event will be divided into four sessions: Tomorrow’s food safety risks, Managing the supply chain, Keeping food safe, Novel processes and packaging.
More information about the event is available here.
Alternatively, email Alex Webb at alex.webb@wrbm.com, or telephone 01293 610431.