Pilgrim Foodservice in Lincolnshire recall cottage pie over horsemeat scare
Pilgrim Foodservice, based in Boston have recalled one of their products as a precautionary measure after an inconclusive equine content test.
A total of 10 cases of the company's multi-portion cottage pie have been recalled after a notification from one of its suppliers, Oak Farm Foods.
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The horsemeat scandal has found a number of beef products contaminated with horse DNA, nationally.
Pilgrim Foodservice have been working with all of its suppliers in accordance with FSA requirements, to ensure samples are sent for DNA speciation testing.
A company statement from Pilgrim Foodservice said: "This involved a very small number of customers, all of whom were personally contacted to arrange return of a total of 10 cases of this particular product.
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"It must be stressed that this is a precautionary measure only following an initial unclear result.
"Further testing involving in excess of 250 samples has taken place and results are currently awaited.
"It is important to note that this supplier has so far received 75 results back, all of which have tested negative for equine content.
"We wish to reiterate to all our customers that we are doing all that we can to assure the integrity of all our products and should any customer have a concern, they are encouraged to continue to contact us directly."
An Oak Farm Foods spokeswoman said: "The quality and safety of our products is of the utmost importance to Oak Farm Foods.
"The company has produced ready meals, soups and sauces for the past 25 years and has an exemplary record in terms of food quality and safety standards.
"While the company carries out extensive testing on all its products DNA testing has not been widely available or the norm in the industry. However, given recent issues Oak Farm Foods has instigated a new regime that includes DNA tests.
"We can confirm that all tests for equine DNA on products to date have tested negative."
4 Comments
by M_C_Donald
Wednesday, February 27 2013, 4:49PM
“I agree that a shortened supply chain may lead to higher prices at the value end of a range, you do get what you pay for.
If price is the guiding principle and as horsemeat tastes as good and is cheaper than beef, maybe manufacturers should source horsemeat that is fit for human consumption and market value ranges labelled as horse or blend thereof.”
by eatmygoal
Wednesday, February 27 2013, 10:54AM
“Good point. I had no idea the chains were so long until this happened. There are allegations about plants in Eastern Europe but in some cases they were selling horse meat and was labelled as such and then through the lines is was being dressed up as something else.
As a consumer my only concern is that the chains are long because it probably reduces the cost. With a shortening chain I worry that the cost of this will be passed on to the consumer. I was quite happy eating value burgers when at university, knowing that there were probably cows bottoms and pigs eyelids in it, as long as it was safe to eat.”
by M_C_Donald
Wednesday, February 27 2013, 10:10AM
“Simplistic, I assume then that you are happy with: pork, lamb, dog, badger, sawdust etc. in your burgers, just not horse.
The problem here is the length of the supply-chain which allowed it to be exploited by the unscrupulous.
Manufacturers thought they were using pure beef, the control and shortening of the supply-chain needs to be addressed. If checks are not carried out and controls put in place there will still be the chance of this happening again.
On the other hand maybe consumers need to think a little bit about what they pay and what might be in the food they buy at that price. If value sausages cost 8p each, realistically, how much good quality pork can you expect to be in them?”
by NullSleep
Tuesday, February 26 2013, 6:09PM
“I think it would be easier if companies who definitely have pure beef just label it as 100% horse free. Then we can just assume everything else does contain horse and save ourselves the time of finding out step by step that nearly every company is using it.”