Horsemeat (Food Fraud)

Grahame Morris Excerpts
Monday 11th February 2013

(11 years, 9 months ago)

Commons Chamber
Read Full debate Read Hansard Text Read Debate Ministerial Extracts
Owen Paterson Portrait Mr Paterson
- Hansard - - - Excerpts

That is a very important question. We have no evidence that any other meat product is being used to adulterate bovine, or processed bovine, products.

Grahame Morris Portrait Grahame M. Morris (Easington) (Lab)
- Hansard - -

The Secretary of State has told us that this is an issue of fraud and mislabelling, but how can he be sure, given that the random testing seems to have involved only about 1.5% of horse carcases? How can he state so categorically that there is no health issue? If more comprehensive testing by the FSA proves that there is a health issue, will he then act unilaterally?

Owen Paterson Portrait Mr Paterson
- Hansard - - - Excerpts

I think I have made clear twice that from now on all horse carcases will be tested, and that none will be released until they are proved to be clear.