Horse meat found in cottage pie sent to Lancashire schools

TRACES of horsemeat DNA have been found in cottage pie which went to 47 school kitchens across Lancashire, it has emerged.

Provisional results of the tests on a pre-prepared cottage pie from an external supplier were reported last night.

County analysts in Preston have been involved in testing beef products on behalf of the Food Standards Agency.

County council caterers submitted a range of beef products from its suppliers to be analysed by the authority’s scientific service.

County councillor Susie Charles, cabinet member for children and schools, said: "We share the concerns people have about what is clearly a major problem in food supplies across the UK and Europe.

“Because of those concerns we decided to seek extra assurance that our external suppliers were not providing any products containing horsemeat DNA, and one of the products has returned a positive result.

“Relatively few schools in Lancashire use this particular product but our priority is to provide absolute assurance that meals contain what the label says – having discovered this one doesn't, we have no hesitation in removing it from menus.

“This does not appear to be a food safety issue but I've no doubt parents! will agree we need to take a very firm line with suppliers and it is a credit to our officers that we have been able to quickly identify the problem and take the product off the menus.”

Comments(24)

shytalk says...
2:03pm Fri 15 Feb 13

We never seemed to have this problem before the government got rid of over 700 food standards agency inspectors..

buckoff says...
2:18pm Fri 15 Feb 13

shytalk wrote:
We never seemed to have this problem before the government got rid of over 700 food standards agency inspectors..
Its know wonder the government did get rid, this has been going on for donkeys years. Obviously the standards agency inspectors was a waste of tax payers money. But does it matter? your either a meat eater or not. Its just the principle of being conned. Horse meat supposedly is 5 times cheaper think, its time the local butcher should stock it. Pony and chips yum yum!!

shytalk says...
2:27pm Fri 15 Feb 13

buckoff wrote:
shytalk wrote:
We never seemed to have this problem before the government got rid of over 700 food standards agency inspectors..
Its know wonder the government did get rid, this has been going on for donkeys years. Obviously the standards agency inspectors was a waste of tax payers money. But does it matter? your either a meat eater or not. Its just the principle of being conned. Horse meat supposedly is 5 times cheaper think, its time the local butcher should stock it. Pony and chips yum yum!!
Think I'll stick to cheap Ribble Valley venison..At least it's not full of Ketamine,Bute,or halal.

shytalk says...
2:30pm Fri 15 Feb 13

Oh and i forgot to mention bulking agents,vetenary drugs,sawdust, injected with water, anti oxidents,and even rat poison. Enjoy your burgers people.

lmhjones says...
3:11pm Fri 15 Feb 13

buckoff wrote:
shytalk wrote:
We never seemed to have this problem before the government got rid of over 700 food standards agency inspectors..
Its know wonder the government did get rid, this has been going on for donkeys years. Obviously the standards agency inspectors was a waste of tax payers money. But does it matter? your either a meat eater or not. Its just the principle of being conned. Horse meat supposedly is 5 times cheaper think, its time the local butcher should stock it. Pony and chips yum yum!!
i presume you are being ironic? or do you really not mind eating something which has been adulterated? potentially contaminated with the carcinogenic bute? this is not about your preference to eat horse, dog or hamster this is about trusting the food supply chain..oh and getting what you pay for

shytalk says...
3:30pm Fri 15 Feb 13

The only time i trust the food chain is when i know which farm the food has come from, not which supermarket it's come from. Supermarkets and burger chains are only interested in maximising profits for the most part... I wouldn't even like to handle the stuff most of them sell, never mind eat it. .

HarryBosch says...
4:29pm Fri 15 Feb 13

shytalk wrote:
buckoff wrote:
shytalk wrote:
We never seemed to have this problem before the government got rid of over 700 food standards agency inspectors..
Its know wonder the government did get rid, this has been going on for donkeys years. Obviously the standards agency inspectors was a waste of tax payers money. But does it matter? your either a meat eater or not. Its just the principle of being conned. Horse meat supposedly is 5 times cheaper think, its time the local butcher should stock it. Pony and chips yum yum!!
Think I'll stick to cheap Ribble Valley venison..At least it's not full of Ketamine,Bute,or halal.
Let me tell you a story about Ribble Valley venison. A friend from the city moved to an isolated lane in the Ribble Valley. I was taking him home one day and as we were driving up his lane he said ''I hit a deer on this road last week. It was still alive but seriously injured. Being the wimp I am I rang the vet to come and sort it out. He duly attended and euthanized it! Not being responsible for removing the carcass he left and I went to get my trailer to move it. But when I got back it was gone! '' We were both sure that some entrepreneurial sole had appropriated it to sell to some local restaurant. But whoever ate it also ingested the vast quantity of horse killer used to dispatch it! The moral of this story - Traceability. Thats why we don't need anything in the food chain that can't be guaranteed safe. If it says Beef on the packet then that's all that should be in it!

shytalk says...
5:02pm Fri 15 Feb 13

HarryBosch wrote:
shytalk wrote:
buckoff wrote:
shytalk wrote:
We never seemed to have this problem before the government got rid of over 700 food standards agency inspectors..
Its know wonder the government did get rid, this has been going on for donkeys years. Obviously the standards agency inspectors was a waste of tax payers money. But does it matter? your either a meat eater or not. Its just the principle of being conned. Horse meat supposedly is 5 times cheaper think, its time the local butcher should stock it. Pony and chips yum yum!!
Think I'll stick to cheap Ribble Valley venison..At least it's not full of Ketamine,Bute,or halal.
Let me tell you a story about Ribble Valley venison. A friend from the city moved to an isolated lane in the Ribble Valley. I was taking him home one day and as we were driving up his lane he said ''I hit a deer on this road last week. It was still alive but seriously injured. Being the wimp I am I rang the vet to come and sort it out. He duly attended and euthanized it! Not being responsible for removing the carcass he left and I went to get my trailer to move it. But when I got back it was gone! '' We were both sure that some entrepreneurial sole had appropriated it to sell to some local restaurant. But whoever ate it also ingested the vast quantity of horse killer used to dispatch it! The moral of this story - Traceability. Thats why we don't need anything in the food chain that can't be guaranteed safe. If it says Beef on the packet then that's all that should be in it!
HarryBosch...There are unwritten rules.If you shoot it you carry it. ( Its why hares get shot last on a walk round ) The vet should of had more sense than to leave it at the side of the road and those that took it should of had more sense. Please ..Next time you or anyone else hits a deer just go to the nearest farm.The farmer will know how to deal with it effectively and there will be something safe for your freezer.

Wolf on a bridge says...
7:04pm Fri 15 Feb 13

Which schools

icannotrace says...
9:28pm Fri 15 Feb 13

I reckon they're cacking it in Baxenden

icannotrace says...
9:30pm Fri 15 Feb 13

shytalk wrote:
HarryBosch wrote:
shytalk wrote:
buckoff wrote:
shytalk wrote:
We never seemed to have this problem before the government got rid of over 700 food standards agency inspectors..
Its know wonder the government did get rid, this has been going on for donkeys years. Obviously the standards agency inspectors was a waste of tax payers money. But does it matter? your either a meat eater or not. Its just the principle of being conned. Horse meat supposedly is 5 times cheaper think, its time the local butcher should stock it. Pony and chips yum yum!!
Think I'll stick to cheap Ribble Valley venison..At least it's not full of Ketamine,Bute,or halal.
Let me tell you a story about Ribble Valley venison. A friend from the city moved to an isolated lane in the Ribble Valley. I was taking him home one day and as we were driving up his lane he said ''I hit a deer on this road last week. It was still alive but seriously injured. Being the wimp I am I rang the vet to come and sort it out. He duly attended and euthanized it! Not being responsible for removing the carcass he left and I went to get my trailer to move it. But when I got back it was gone! '' We were both sure that some entrepreneurial sole had appropriated it to sell to some local restaurant. But whoever ate it also ingested the vast quantity of horse killer used to dispatch it! The moral of this story - Traceability. Thats why we don't need anything in the food chain that can't be guaranteed safe. If it says Beef on the packet then that's all that should be in it!
HarryBosch...There are unwritten rules.If you shoot it you carry it. ( Its why hares get shot last on a walk round ) The vet should of had more sense than to leave it at the side of the road and those that took it should of had more sense. Please ..Next time you or anyone else hits a deer just go to the nearest farm.The farmer will know how to deal with it effectively and there will be something safe for your freezer.
You're missing Harry's point which, by the way, hits the nail on the head

Jarrod Schulz Bearded Wonder says...
10:07pm Fri 15 Feb 13

Breaking news, Donkey meat found in BFC first team squad, what next!!! disgusting.

jim 2012 says...
3:27am Sat 16 Feb 13

shytalk wrote:
Oh and i forgot to mention bulking agents,vetenary drugs,sawdust, injected with water, anti oxidents,and even rat poison. Enjoy your burgers people.
i think my burgers ran in the 3 30 at kempton park last week

jim 2012 says...
3:30am Sat 16 Feb 13

parrotcity wrote:
i know its late but i keep thinking off the other week, man penetrates horse!!!ah ahahahahahaveggie for me thinks.
try before you buy

jim 2012 says...
3:37am Sat 16 Feb 13

Jarrod Schulz Bearded Wonder wrote:
Breaking news, Donkey meat found in BFC first team squad, what next!!! disgusting.
Breaking news
eleven donkeys found running around turf moor burnley

Concerned1ofmany says...
8:44am Sat 16 Feb 13

A lot of this is to do with costings as well.

About 6 yrs ago I worked for LCC school dinners. One meal sticks in my mind, 'roast chicken breast dinner' sounds good on the face of it. However on the chicken breast box, which was delivered frozen, the origin of the meat was, 'china'.
Also at the time, cordial was not sugar free, I was so annoyed with LCC I emailed them asking for an explantion why children cant have sugar free juice, the reply was 'due to costs', and when i asked why we couldnt use British Chickens, I was informed it was not possible to find a local producer who could provide vasts amounts at a set cost! (by the way the China chicken breast must have been from blooming little chickens too) Also the sausages at the time were that fatty, urrgh one day I saved all the cooking liquid from 100 sausage, and left it in the fridge to see if it was 100% fat or injected water etc, the following day it was half n half. I quite understand LCC have to work to budgets, and not aware of the horse meat addition, but if they constantly chase the cheapest product, the quality or quantity will suffer.

Needless to say I stopped working in the kitchens, and my children have packed lunches! Support your local independent shop, is my moto, and has been for a long time, at least you know where the lamb chop comes from etc. Have a good weekend all! x

shytalk says...
12:41pm Sat 16 Feb 13

Advice is..Buy meat from a local butcher who can tell you where the meat has come from..It will be documented and should be sourced locally from local farms and abattoirs. Avoid pre packed from supermarkets( some i have seen is disgusting and i wouldn't feed it to the cat ). From what i have seen fresh meat counters are far better. and avoid multi national fast food outlets.
And Only buy Ribble valley cheap venison from accredited poachers.

HarryBosch says...
1:18pm Sat 16 Feb 13

shytalk wrote:
Advice is..Buy meat from a local butcher who can tell you where the meat has come from..It will be documented and should be sourced locally from local farms and abattoirs. Avoid pre packed from supermarkets( some i have seen is disgusting and i wouldn't feed it to the cat ). From what i have seen fresh meat counters are far better. and avoid multi national fast food outlets.
And Only buy Ribble valley cheap venison from accredited poachers.
Price of rump steak today at a local national supermarket is £11 per kilo, advertised as coming from a farm in Yorkshire. The same rump steak from a local farm shop is advertised at £18 per kilo. I would much prefer to buy the local one were I can be more confident about it's traceability so why does the price vary so much? This is a question for Shytalk who appears to have a good knowledge of the farming industry in the Ribble Valley.

Jarrod Schulz Bearded Wonder says...
2:37pm Sat 16 Feb 13

HarryBosch wrote:
shytalk wrote:
Advice is..Buy meat from a local butcher who can tell you where the meat has come from..It will be documented and should be sourced locally from local farms and abattoirs. Avoid pre packed from supermarkets( some i have seen is disgusting and i wouldn't feed it to the cat ). From what i have seen fresh meat counters are far better. and avoid multi national fast food outlets.
And Only buy Ribble valley cheap venison from accredited poachers.
Price of rump steak today at a local national supermarket is £11 per kilo, advertised as coming from a farm in Yorkshire. The same rump steak from a local farm shop is advertised at £18 per kilo. I would much prefer to buy the local one were I can be more confident about it's traceability so why does the price vary so much? This is a question for Shytalk who appears to have a good knowledge of the farming industry in the Ribble Valley.
Because supermarkets do what supermarkets do. They push prices down so far, and demand local farmers supply at a certain price. The farmers can't provide quality meat at the prices supermarkets want so they go elsewhere with their business. They aren't bothered about a piece of meats tracability so long as the price is rock bottom. They do the same to dairy farmers with milk and Brewerys with beer. If they DNA tested the lager they would probably find it contains hore urine, would they bother?
The answwr is to use your local supplier for everything and shut supermarkets down, they do nothing but shut shops in the high street and kill town centres. Not to mention encourage slave labour in foreign countries. Buy British, and stay local. it may cost a bit more, but you would be keeping yourselves in employment.

Concerned1ofmany says...
3:32pm Sat 16 Feb 13

Jarrod Schulz Bearded Wonder wrote:
HarryBosch wrote:
shytalk wrote:
Advice is..Buy meat from a local butcher who can tell you where the meat has come from..It will be documented and should be sourced locally from local farms and abattoirs. Avoid pre packed from supermarkets( some i have seen is disgusting and i wouldn't feed it to the cat ). From what i have seen fresh meat counters are far better. and avoid multi national fast food outlets.
And Only buy Ribble valley cheap venison from accredited poachers.
Price of rump steak today at a local national supermarket is £11 per kilo, advertised as coming from a farm in Yorkshire. The same rump steak from a local farm shop is advertised at £18 per kilo. I would much prefer to buy the local one were I can be more confident about it's traceability so why does the price vary so much? This is a question for Shytalk who appears to have a good knowledge of the farming industry in the Ribble Valley.
Because supermarkets do what supermarkets do. They push prices down so far, and demand local farmers supply at a certain price. The farmers can't provide quality meat at the prices supermarkets want so they go elsewhere with their business. They aren't bothered about a piece of meats tracability so long as the price is rock bottom. They do the same to dairy farmers with milk and Brewerys with beer. If they DNA tested the lager they would probably find it contains hore urine, would they bother?
The answwr is to use your local supplier for everything and shut supermarkets down, they do nothing but shut shops in the high street and kill town centres. Not to mention encourage slave labour in foreign countries. Buy British, and stay local. it may cost a bit more, but you would be keeping yourselves in employment.
Excellent, 'Buy British n stay local, it may cost a bit more',,,,,, but in my experience buying from the butcher and the greengrocer, provides me with fruit, veg n meat that is far more tasty, fresher, and inturn less wastage.

shytalk says...
8:41pm Sat 16 Feb 13

HarryBosch wrote:
shytalk wrote:
Advice is..Buy meat from a local butcher who can tell you where the meat has come from..It will be documented and should be sourced locally from local farms and abattoirs. Avoid pre packed from supermarkets( some i have seen is disgusting and i wouldn't feed it to the cat ). From what i have seen fresh meat counters are far better. and avoid multi national fast food outlets.
And Only buy Ribble valley cheap venison from accredited poachers.
Price of rump steak today at a local national supermarket is £11 per kilo, advertised as coming from a farm in Yorkshire. The same rump steak from a local farm shop is advertised at £18 per kilo. I would much prefer to buy the local one were I can be more confident about it's traceability so why does the price vary so much? This is a question for Shytalk who appears to have a good knowledge of the farming industry in the Ribble Valley.
Cow beef...Supermarkets are full of it..You get what you pay for.

HarryBosch says...
8:47pm Sat 16 Feb 13

shytalk wrote:
HarryBosch wrote:
shytalk wrote:
Advice is..Buy meat from a local butcher who can tell you where the meat has come from..It will be documented and should be sourced locally from local farms and abattoirs. Avoid pre packed from supermarkets( some i have seen is disgusting and i wouldn't feed it to the cat ). From what i have seen fresh meat counters are far better. and avoid multi national fast food outlets.
And Only buy Ribble valley cheap venison from accredited poachers.
Price of rump steak today at a local national supermarket is £11 per kilo, advertised as coming from a farm in Yorkshire. The same rump steak from a local farm shop is advertised at £18 per kilo. I would much prefer to buy the local one were I can be more confident about it's traceability so why does the price vary so much? This is a question for Shytalk who appears to have a good knowledge of the farming industry in the Ribble Valley.
Cow beef...Supermarkets are full of it..You get what you pay for.
I knew you'd have the answer. So, for those of us who are not really rural savy, what's the difference between cow beef and bull beef?

juanbbien says...
12:20pm Sun 17 Feb 13

Tesco,Asda,Morrisons
,advertise on television like they are concerned about you and are doing you a favour,every bit helps etc,in reality all adverts are just interested in how much money they can make and couldn't care less about you and in the meantime kill the local farming and milk industry by screwing them to the floor just so as they can make more and more profit.

gazzandste says...
11:11pm Sun 17 Feb 13

juanbbien wrote:
Tesco,Asda,Morrisons

,advertise on television like they are concerned about you and are doing you a favour,every bit helps etc,in reality all adverts are just interested in how much money they can make and couldn't care less about you and in the meantime kill the local farming and milk industry by screwing them to the floor just so as they can make more and more profit.
British supermarkets are their own enemies, why buy cheap crap from abroad when we have our own butchers and meat suppliers. Well done Morrisons you supply your own meat. Based in Colne.

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