Will it never end? We think the scandal of horsemeat being sold as beef has run its course and then another equine skeleton comes out of the cupboard, which suggests this practice was more common than you would believe. How can it have happened?
Food Manufacturers
Many food manufacturers, suppliers and catering providers spout about traceability but recent events undermine the processes and systems these organisations are using to validate this. Perhaps what should now be at the top of the agenda is accountability. If you were more accountable for the food you are buying and feeding to your customers, you would be more stringent with testing and verifying the authenticity of the ingredients. Over the years there have been many stories of corners being cut to improve margins for food manufacturers by using meat from dubious origins and yet the practice still continues.
There is no doubt that damage has been done to the reputations of companies involved in the horsemeat debacle but once the fuss has died down the majority of people will continue to buy their ready meals and cheap burgers. For those on low incomes or who are time constrained there seems to be no choice, so pressure must be brought to bear to make organisations truly accountable. It’s easy to make demands for changes to be made to the law but the trade descriptions legislation in this instance is not a big enough deterrent.
Duping your customers either deliberately or otherwise is not acceptable and a more appropriate penalty should be levied. We want to know that what we are eating is as described. We can then make our own choices. Is that too much to ask?
