The British Hospitality Association (BHA) has confirmed that its leading members are testing their minced beef products.
The testing was agreed in partnership with the Food Standards Agency (FSA) and Owen Paterson MP, Environment Secretary.
John Dyson, Food Adviser at the BHA has been working closely with the FSA and DEFRA on this issue and said:
?The hospitality industry buys fresh food, which is already subject to strict legislation. For our members, the origin and traceability of food is vital and many of our members pride themselves on a deep knowledge of their local suppliers. However, we also acknowledge that many members also buy processed products made specifically for the catering industry?and it?s these types of products that are subject to the meat testing.
?We acknowledge that the hospitality and catering industry must learn lessons along with the rest of the food industry and that?the system for frozen and processed foods must be rigorous.? Our united aim is to maintain confidence at every level so that businesses have confidence in the food they are preparing and cooking and customers have confidence in what they are eating.?
Hospitality companies and contract catering organisations took immediate action after the first incident of horse meat contamination was reported in mid-January and removed potentially contaminated products from menus. A review of supply chain controls together with the setting up of a programme of official testing for the presence of horsemeat in minced beef products has been underway since then.? Individual businesses are required to report any positive contamination results over 1% directly to the FSA.
A number of the largest businesses including: Mitchells and Butler, Sodexo, Elior, Accor, WSH Holdings who operate Baxter Storey, ?Holroyd Howe, Caterlink and Benugo cafes have agreed to provide their testing results to the FSA.
For further information please contact: [email protected].