British consumers were relieved to see justice done after the imprisonment of five men last month for their part in the multi-million pound pet food scam that saw condemned pet food sold for human consumption. Environmental health officers in Yorkshire revealed on Wednesday (3 January) however that the case was not unique, forcing many to once more eye their dinner plates with suspicion.
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Over the course of four years, Rotherham Council invested over £500,000 on the case, which received its verdict on Hull Crown Court on 22 December, and huge amounts of manpower. Officers now say that among the half a million documents uncovered during the investigation, there exists evidence to expose an illegal meat trade that spans the nation.
Investigators have now put their arguments and evidence to the government watchdog the Food Standards Agency. A spokesman commented: “Any information we get we will consider carefully. We are working closely with Rotherham to see if there is a further problem but we will consider information we get and liase with any local authority as necessary.”
Bob Crosby, director of environmental health in Rotherham Council, revealed that the FSA “are now going to consider the next steps, which will include consideration of changes in legislation, better national and regional co-ordination of this kind of investigation, and a series of training programmes to make sure that we can all be better prepared for dealing with this kind of event in the future.”
To read about the court trial, click here.
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By GlobalDataTo read about the background of the case when it first came to light, click here.
