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01/07/2013
Meat From TB-Positive Cattle 'Sold By Defra'
Meat from cattle which had been killed after testing positive for bovine tuberculosis (bTB) is being sold for human consumption by Defra, according to a report in The Sunday Times.
The newspaper added that the meat is banned by most supermarkets, due to "public-health concerns surrounding the issue of bTB and its risk to consumers", however it claimed that meat from almost 28,000 diseased animals are still sold to food processors and caterers each year.
The meat is then used in schools, hospitals and the military.
Animals which test positive for bTB must be slaughtered. Unless a private slaughter is arranged, the animals are taken to slaughter by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), which then pays compensation to farmers based on the market value.
In response, a Defra spokesperson said: "This is irresponsible scaremongering. The Food Standards Agency has confirmed there are no known cases where someone has contracted TB from eating meat.
"All meat from cattle slaughtered due to bovine TB must undergo rigorous food safety checks before the meat is passed as fit for consumption. As a result, the risk is extremely low, regardless of whether or how the meat is cooked."
(JP/CD)
The newspaper added that the meat is banned by most supermarkets, due to "public-health concerns surrounding the issue of bTB and its risk to consumers", however it claimed that meat from almost 28,000 diseased animals are still sold to food processors and caterers each year.
The meat is then used in schools, hospitals and the military.
Animals which test positive for bTB must be slaughtered. Unless a private slaughter is arranged, the animals are taken to slaughter by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), which then pays compensation to farmers based on the market value.
In response, a Defra spokesperson said: "This is irresponsible scaremongering. The Food Standards Agency has confirmed there are no known cases where someone has contracted TB from eating meat.
"All meat from cattle slaughtered due to bovine TB must undergo rigorous food safety checks before the meat is passed as fit for consumption. As a result, the risk is extremely low, regardless of whether or how the meat is cooked."
(JP/CD)
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