Four men have been arrested and over four tonnes of illegal meat has been removed from the market following a joint operation by Dudley Council and the National Food Crime Unit (NFCU).
Officers from the local authority and the NFCU, working with West Midlands Police, HMRC and the Home Office, attended an address in Dudley to target an unapproved meat cutting plant. Approximately four and a quarter metric tonnes of illegal meat was removed during the operation.
Food safety concerns
Dudley Council took enforcement action to address immediate food safety concerns at the site. Meat that is illegally placed into the food chain bypasses the rigorous safety and hygiene checks required in the UK, meaning it can carry diseases and contaminants that put consumers at risk.
The NFCU and Food Standards Agency (FSA) have issued a Food Alert for Action and are working with local authorities to trace the meat and remove it from the market. Officers from the NFCU are now examining the details of the product and paperwork recovered and have started a criminal investigation.
Partnership approach praised
Councillor Patrick Harley, leader of Dudley Council, said the operation demonstrated the value of strong partnership working. "Working alongside the National Food Crime Unit and other enforcement partners, Dudley Council officers helped identify and tackle activity that posed a potential risk to public health," he said.
Will Simpson, Regional Intelligence Officer at the FSA's NFCU, added that the operation forms part of the ongoing work to disrupt the illegal meat trade. "Food businesses must do their due diligence on their suppliers to ensure they meet their legal responsibilities to sell food that's safe and what it says it is," he said.
Report suspected food crime
Anyone with suspicions of food crime can report it safely and confidentially to the NFCU online or by freephone on 0800 028 1180.
