Beef Association urges consumers to check for 'Origin UK'

The National Beef Association has said no-one 'can afford to lower their guard' or consumers could once again be buying contaminated beef products in supermarkets.

"Only beef that is 100 per cent British can be sold in a pack with an origin statement that simply states 'Origin UK' in bold letters" said NBA's national director Chris Mallon.

"The biggest, best, and most longstanding consumer safeguard, is to only buy beef from cattle that were born, reared and processed in the UK and whose beef was packed by a company operating within UK borders."

Earlier this month, Lancashire County Council identified traces of horse meat imported from Hungary that was labelled as beef.

The meat was imported by Hungarian Food Ltd in Preston.

Investigations showed that 40kg were sold through Hungarian Food Ltd's own market stall in Preston, and through a shop in Liverpool called Taste of Hungary.

"Some retailers like to mix in beef from the Republic of Ireland (ROI) as it is cheaper and can take advantage of the clear consumer preference for British beef by assembling the pack inside UK borders and then do their utmost to create an impression that everything it contains is the genuine British product" said Mallon.

"Not all packs of 'Origin UK' beef are covered by the Red Tractor so consumers whose principal concern is that they are buying high provenance, home produced, beef that has been channeled through the shortest possible supply chain should use “Origin UK” as their infallible primary guide – and regard the Red Tractor as their farm assurance bonus and double seal of approval."