A UK supermarket that was found to be selling fake British beef has been named. An investigation into food fraud has now been started, but the supermarket itself is not under investigation.
Booths has 27 different stores across the North West of England - including branches in Hale Barns, Preston, Knutsford and Ormskirk. But now an investigation has been launched, after products labelled as British-sourced which had actually been imported from South America and Europe, were found in stores.
While the company itself is not being investigated, the National Food Crime Unit (NFCU) is looking into how the products ended up on its shelves and is probing one of its suppliers, the BBC reports. The products in question, pre-packed sliced meats and deli products, were removed from stock as soon as Booths was made aware, they said.
The company was told about the products in 2021, and said they have since ceased trading with the supplier, which the NFCU hasn't disclosed. The upmarket chain prides itself on only selling 100% British meat.
The revelation comes 10 years after the 2013 horse meat scandal in which some burgers and ready meals were found to contain 100% horse meat. Booths also said it held issues of products' origins, traceability, honesty and authenticity to the highest level of importance, and that they've been fully co-operating with the NFCU over the past 18 months.
The deputy chief of the NFCU, Andrew Quinn, said on Thursday that it was not a food safety issue but a matter of food fraud, which it takes very seriously. "Any fraud investigations of this nature take time to go through evidence and bring to any outcome, including any potential prosecution,," Mr Quinn said. "We take food fraud very seriously and are acting urgently to protect the consumer.”
A spokesman for Booths confirmed to the Mirror they had been "working closely and co-operatively" with the National Food Crime Unit (NFCU) since being made aware of potential food fraud issues in 2021. They said: “Booths are categorically NOT under investigation by the NFCU."
“It is also important to note the whilst the NFCU investigation relates to a potential serious food fraud incident, this is not a food safety issue." The spokesman added: “It is important that the NFCU is able to complete its investigations in an objective and impartial manner.
"The NFCU continue to have the full support of Booths and to that effect, Booths will make no further comment at this stage, any further enquiries relating to this matter should be directed to the NFCU.”
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