Note: The Food Standards Agency statement for caterers is available here.
ARAMARK statement:
“We can’t speak for the catering industry and weren’t present at today’s meeting. From our standpoint, all ARAMARK-authorised suppliers of products containing meat and processed meat have confirmed to us that the products do not contain horsemeat.”
Sodexo statement:
“We have not identified any products containing horsemeat within our catering supply chain. Additional testing of beef containing product lines has been implemented to support the assurances we have already received from our suppliers and to underpin our already robust food supply assurance processes. As a stakeholder in this unfolding incident, Sodexo is working together with the authorities as they seek to resolve the situation.”
Tillery Valley, Sodexo’s prepared foods business statement:
“Our current nominated meat suppliers have confirmed that they have not supplied us with products or ingredients that have been sourced from any of the meat suppliers cited by the Food Standards Agency and that their meat products do not contain species other than that declared on the label.
“All suppliers to TVF must be certified to the British Retail Consortium Food Safety Standard, an integral part of which is a full traceability process for raw materials. We purchase whole beef joints which are minced on-site by our trained butchers. These joints are traceable to the abattoir and cutting plant.
“TVF is in regular contact with all appropriate regulatory authorities, and will continue to be so until the current situation is resolved.”
Hospital Caterers Association statement:
The Hospital Caterers Association (HCA) is confident that hospital meals have not been affected by the current situation with regard to horsemeat contamination.
In addition, following further developments that have been highlighted in the media over recent days, the evidence so far suggests the contamination of food products is specific to the retail/consumer market and not to the supply to the catering trade/food service market, which provides food to public institutions such as hospital and schools.
Yesterday’s (February 11th) advice to public institutions from the Food Standards Agency (FSA) underlines what is already good catering practice and should be in place regardless of recent revelations, as outlined above.
As there is no evidence to suggest that the hospital catering sector has been affected by the horsemeat contamination so far, the public should continue to be assured of the quality and safety of patients’ meals as well as those for staff and visitors.
Full statement:
http://www.hospitalcaterers.org/press-releases/2013/horsemeat-statement.php
Local Authority Caterers Association statement:
http://www.laca.co.uk/news/laca-chair-anne-bull-responds-fsa-meat-advice
3663 statement:
“As a major national distributor of both branded and own label to the catering and hospitality industry, 3663 makes it clear to every supplier that products supplied should only include declared ingredients. 3663 invests heavily in Quality Assurance to do the utmost to protect the integrity of its product range. Having already conducted extensive checks across its range and its suppliers, 3663 can assure the catering and hospitality industry that:
- the company does not have any direct links with the sources mentioned in the media for the presence of horsemeat in the food chain
- to date all of the tests 3663 has carried out for the presence of horsemeat have proved to be negative
- it is already a core requirement for all suppliers of 3663 to provide assurance that the products they are supplying do not contain any undeclared meats and are in line with the ingredients declaration supplied with the products
In addition, following meetings between industry representatives, the FSA and DEFRA, 3663 can confirm that the following steps will be taken:
- tests already carried out for the presence of horsemeat will be submitted to the FSA this week
- all 3663 own brand products that contain chopped and/or minced (comminuted) beef as an ingredient have already been sent for testing in line with FSA recommendations
- 3663 is re-contacting all suppliers of products that contain comminuted beef to ensure that they test these products in line with the new FSA requirements
“3663 will of course review the need to test further products following the results of this first phase of testing and any changing requirements from the FSA.”
Brakes statement:
Brakes is aware of the FSAI (Food Safety Authority of Ireland) investigations and subsequent press reports in January 2013 relating to the finding of horse and pig meat in retail beef burgers.
Brakes is also aware of the recent press releases and communications from FSA relating to the finding of horse meat in Findus Beef Lasagne.
In addition, Brakes has been aware of recent press reports that traces of porcine protein have been found in Halal products supplied to the Ministry of Justice.
We would like to reassure customers that no Brakes brand products are sourced from the suppliers named and none of our own brand products have been implicated in any of these findings.
Our Technical and Purchasing teams are monitoring the evolving situation very seriously.
Although none of our products are affected by these findings, as a further precaution Brakes is currently undertaking appropriate testing of specific products.
For all Brake branded beef product suppliers we have had positive reconfirmation on the source, traceability and processing of the meat.
We do not supply any Brakes brand Halal products, but do take stock of a number of supplier branded Halal certified products. Despite holding the necessary Halal certificates for all products from various Halal certifying bodies, as a further precaution, we are undertaking speciation testing.
Brakes branded suppliers follow rigorous manufacturing standards and specifications to ensure they meet agreed product specifications and prevent any cross-contamination.
Brakes terms and conditions require that all our suppliers comply with all relevant UK and EU legislation.
Along with the wider industry, we are considering any requirements on sampling and testing of our products in line with the protocols recently announced by the Food Standards Agency.
