Horsemeat scandal to be discussed

Feb 25 2013

Rural Affairs Secretary Richard Lochhead is to use his visit to Brussels to discuss the escalating horse meat scandal with other EU agriculture ministers.

It emerged last week that a frozen burger found in the kitchen of Cumbernauld High School, North Lanarkshire, contained horse DNA.

Local authorities across Scotland have been advised to "place a hold" on frozen beef burgers following the discovery, and it means schools, council leisure facilities and some social care establishments have also been told not to use any current stocks they have of frozen beef products, including mince.

On Saturday, the Scottish Parliament confirmed that catering giant Sodexo, which withdrew beef from its UK sites after a frozen product tested positive for horse DNA, had supplied burgers to Holyrood.

A spokeswoman said that, while written assurance had been received from Sodexo that supplies to Holyrood are not affected, its beef burgers have been taken off the menu there as a "precautionary measure".

Mr Lochhead will raise the horse meat issue with ministers in Brussels.

A spokesman for the Cabinet Secretary said: "The horse meat scandal has implications across Europe and Mr Lochhead will be raising issues around the food industry supply chain during talks with other EU agriculture ministers in Brussels.

"The Scottish Government is taking action to respond to consumer concerns but we also need a co-ordinated response at a European level too."

The Scottish Government has also indicated that it will hold a summit with local authorities to look at ways of improving the standard of food served in schools, including changing the way ingredients are sourced.