Almost a year on from the horsemeat scandal, a British Government-funded report has recommended the establishment of a specialist food crime unit.
The review, chaired by Professor Chris Elliott of the Institute for Global Food Security in Belfast, identified a range of weaknesses across the existing food controls that have left consumers vulnerable to fraud.
As a result, he has called on the Government to set up a unit, which could be hosted by the Foods Standards Agency, who would have the power to investigate and prosecute those responsible.
The 2013 horsemeat scandal, which affected countries all over Europe, discovered that adulterated foods advertised as containing beef were found to contain as much as 100% horsemeat.
The review was announced in April.
“The UK food industry is currently too vulnerable to criminals wishing to perpetrate fraud," said Prof Elliott.
“A food supply system which is much more difficult for criminals to operate in is urgently required.”
"I believe criminal networks have begun to see the potential for huge profits and low risks in this area. The food industry and thus consumers are currently vulnerable,” he added.
To date, no one has been prosecuted in the UK in relation to the scandal.
The report was commissioned by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Department of Health.
Environment Secretary Owen Paterson said: "The detail of how to set up a crime unit as he suggests, whether we build on the current intelligence hub, I think those are details that we need to work on.
Prof Elliott’s full review of Britain’s food industry will be released next spring.
© 2013 - European Supermarket Magazine by Enda Dowling
