A row has broken out between Asda and British pig farmers after 
Kantar Worldpanel data appeared to show the retailer’s support of UK product fell sharply in the run-up 
to Christmas.


Processors are claiming a victory over the Food Standards Agency (FSA) in the High Court, which they claim could see the agency refund or reduce charges to industry to the tune of £1m.



The FSA was challenged in the courts by 12 members of the Association of Independent Meat Suppliers (AIMS) over issues surrounding the recovery of EU minima charges.

Researchers will be looking at how diet, animal husbandry and new technologies can reduce the environmental impact of poultry production in the latest stage of a multi-partner industry project.

Activity for the next National Butchers’ Week is officially under way, with a dedicated website now online at www.nationalbutchersweek.co.uk.

National Butchers’ Week 2012 will run from 25-31 March 2012. It will once again run under the banner of ‘Ask the Expert’, highlighting the true expertise of the trained artisan butcher – many of whom have been at the heart of their communities for decades.

Hampshire butchers carried the day against their Berkshire and Oxfordshire competitors in the recent Three Counties Sausage and Pie Competition.

A leading foodservice supplier is upping its commitment to Red Tractor-assured products following significant sales rises in the last few months.

Cooked ingredients manufacturer TMI Foods has gained Red Tractor accreditation for its Northampton site, which producers 10 million rashers of bacon a week.

Vion Food has announced plans to sell its Winsford processing operations to Morrisons.

The deal will see the Cheshire-based meat processing site and all staff transfer to Farmers Boy Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Morrisons.

A row has erupted over meat passed fit for human consumption by meat inspectors being banned from the food chain.

Founder member of the abattoir trade body AIMS Sammy Morphet has slammed the Food Standards Agency (FSA) for a rule that condemns meat from emergency-slaughter animals, which have not been examined live by a vet.

Tesco’s dominance over the grocery market has slipped, dipping below 30% for the first time since May 2005, the latest grocery share figures from Kantar Worldpanel has shown.

The Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) has announced that Mike Whittemore has been appointed to the new position of trade team marketing manager for Eblex.

Sales of bacon and fresh pork products accelerated over the Christmas period as shoppers chose versatility and a relatively low price over other proteins, Cranswick has revealed.

Farmers can reduce their carbon emissions by focusing on four key areas, according to the latest update to Eblex’s ongoing roadmap work.

The third publication in the roadmap series, Down to Earth, was launched in London yesterday (30 Jan). It includes sections on emissions benchmarking, carbon sequestration, waste in the supply chain, retailer activity and farmer case studies.

Two butchers from Staffordshire and Wolverhampton won the West Midlands ‘tastiest sausage’ competition, organised by Heart of England Fine Foods (HEFF).

The average income on specialist pig farms in England is expected to fall by around 20% over the next year, a 2011-12 forecast from Defra has revealed.

Processing businesses big and small will be battling it out in Birmingham later in the year to claim top prizes in the prestigious Meat & Poultry Processing Awards.

Judging for the awards, which are organised by Meat Trades Journal, is now complete and three finalists are shortlisted in each category.

Tulip boss Steve Murrells is to return to retail after being appointed chief executive of the Co-operative Group’s food business.

Eblex has appointed three new board members to replace David Raine, John Hoskin and Peter Kingwill. Gwyn Williams, Paul Westaway and Howard Bates will take up their roles on 1 April 2012.

Frozen food retailer Iceland has recalled its own brand frozen lamb mince products as a precaution after salmonella was found in a test sample.

Premium pie brand Pieminister has signed a deal to support England Rugby sponsor 02 during the RBS Six Nations tournament.

Pig and poultry producers, processors and butchers are being given the chance to claim a £1,000 prize if they can come up with the latest innovation to drive the sector forward.

The ABN Innovation Award 2012, which is open to anyone with an idea for adding greater value to the industries, aims to highlight the very best ideas to help tackle some of the challenges currently being faced by the pig and poultry food production chain.

A leading meat association has accused the Food Standards Agency (FSA) of being “dramatic, divisive and misleading” by publishing out-of-date information in what amounts to a “league table” of meat plants.

The Scottish Association of Meat Wholesalers (SAMW) has reacted angrily to the FSA’s publication of its ‘cause for concern’ list, seeing it as “a deliberate act of aggression” against the meat industry.

Cases of the Schmallenberg virus (SBV) have been detected on four sheep farms in Norfolk, Suffolk and East Sussex, the Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency (AHVLA) has confirmed.

Bpex has redesigned its website in a bid to make the it more accessible and easy to navigate.

Ireland is bringing out a certification system for craft butchers, which has been likened to a ‘Michelin-star’ system for independent high street butchers. 

2 Sisters’ holding company, Boparan Holdings, has announced strong sales momentum in its first-quarter trading, with revenues of £565m.

Two-thirds of British women recognise red meat as a good source of iron, but a majority are unaware of iron deficiency risk, a survey has revealed.

Clinical research shows that more than 90% of women consume less than the recommended intake of iron. Among them, 25% suffer from dangerously low levels of iron, with symptoms such as tiredness, pale skin and, in severe cases, hair loss.

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has published the list of processors and abattoirs which it says fails to meet the required hygiene standard, and has committed to publish this on a weekly basis from now on.

The plants named are those deemed a “cause for concern” by the FSA on the basis of plant audit reports, which have been informed that they must put improvements in place to ensure that the required hygiene standards are met.

A new survey has found that 60% of consumers aged 18-24 would like more information when buying meat.

Bpex has announced a new head of marketing who will take up the position in April. 

Kirsty Walker is joining Bpex from Arthritis Research UK, where she was policy, communications and brand director. She will take on the role from Chris Lamb who is retiring at the end of February.

Leading meat processor Tulip is to shut its plant in Birkenhead, with the potential loss of 218 jobs.

The company stated that the cooked meat plant, which it acquired in November 2011 when it bought the Parkam Food Group, was “unable to address a number of operational and technical issues” at the loss-making facility and it would take too much of investment to bring it up to standard. 

Eblex has announced the date for this year’s Outlook Conference as Wednesday 2 May. The half-day event highlights economic and market information and forecasting for the pig, dairy and beef and lamb sectors, and is jointly hosted with Bpex and DairyCo.

The Scottish Executive has announced a £300,000 funding boost to encourage export growth in key European markets, as research reveals that the weak euro is decreasing the threat from cheap red meat imports.

The new EU strategy on animal welfare, announced yesterday (19 January) has met with mixed reviews from the meat and farming organisations. Although tentatively welcomed by some, many feel it does not go far enough to address the problems in enforcing existing animal welfare legislation and also maintaining competitiveness. 

Leading members of the meat industry have renewed their calls for an overhaul of the Food Standards Agency (FSA) auditing system for meat plants, following the news that the FSA has gone ahead with its controversial plans to publish audit reports of approved meat plants in England, Scotland and Wales.

The first tranche were published on Monday (16 January) and included more than 200 audits that have been completed since 1 November 2011. From now on, around 200 audits will be issued at the end of each month.

Scotch Beef is the biggest-selling Scottish food and drink brand in Great Britain, research has revealed. British sales of Scotch Beef have reached over £247m, surpassing all other food and drink brands from Scotland, Kantar Worldpanel said at a Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) marketing conference.

Award-winning Scottish butcher Paul Boyle has had to interrupt business due to a criminal fire that destroyed his Bathgate shop. Three young people have been arrested following the incident, which happened at Boghall Butchers on 15 January around 3am.

Northern Ireland meat business Hannan Meats has signed a major deal to supply pubs and restaurants across the north east of England, as part of its successful expansion into the north of England.

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has changed its decision to deny Cranswick the right to export to China, after a local MP brought the issue to the Prime Minister’s attention.

The FSA had previously declared that the company’s Preston plant did not meet the requirements for the Chinese market, despite having won approval by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA).

A halal business is mourning the loss of one of its managers after he was allegedly murdered on a trip home to Pakistan.

The Co-operative Group has started work on a new 477,000sq ft food distribution centre in north Derbyshire, which will distribute approximately 40,000 cases of meat and meat products a week and service 529 stores in the Yorkshire, Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire areas.

Leading meat-packing company Hilton Food Group reported a ‘solid’ performance in the UK and Ireland in the 52 weeks to 1 January 2012, despite the challenging trading conditions.

Chicken processor Faccenda has said it will create 347 new jobs if plans to extend its Telford factory are given the go-ahead.

The company has submitted a planning application for a 13,490m² extension to its existing 6,258m² factory at Hortonwood industrial estate. The extension would accommodate new cutting and portioning lines, chilled despatch warehousing and new administration and staff facilities.

Asda has seen a “significant” increase in meat sales following the decision to convert in-store butchery counters to carry the Butcher’s Selection branding, according to the company’s senior red meat trader Jim Viggars.

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has gone ahead with its controversial plans to publish audit reports of approved meat plants in England, Scotland and Wales, with the first audits published on its website yesterday (16 January).

The first tranche included more than 200 audits that have been completed since 1 November 2011. From now on, around 200 audits will be issued at the end of each month.

A major British pork promotional campaign has entered its second phase, wth consumers being urged to ‘Eat Yourself Happy’.

A leading Olympic athlete has given his backing to meat consumption after confirming his support for the healthy role that red meat plays in the diet.

Scottish beef farmers have agreed a “unanimous strategy” for creating a single body to campaign on behalf of the industry.

NBA Scotland and the Scottish Beef Cattle Association (SBCA) met last week (11 January) at UA’s Stirling Mart to discuss CAP reform and the possible merger of the two groups.

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has announced that its next open board meeting will take place at 1pm on Tuesday 24 January 2012.

Livestock farmers are invited to attend a debate organised by the National Farmers’ Union (NFU) and the British Cattle Veterinary Association (BCVA) to assess the health of the British herd.

The 2012 edition of the Oxford Farming Conference focused on issues of food security, sustainability and power. Speakers included Agriculture Minister Jim Paice, Secretary of State Caroline Spelman and Shadow Secretary of State Mary Creagh.

Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Caroline Spelman has praised Scottish farmers for the success of their produce overseas. Scotland has broken its food export record, surpassing £1bn in 2011.

Industry leaders have expressed reservations on the results of a study linking processed meat consumption with pancreatic cancer. The research compiled the results of 11 different papers, and found that consuming 50g of processed meat a day could increase the risk of pancreatic cancer by 19%.

Coventry-based catering butcher Aubrey Allen has won Restaurant magazine’s Chef Choice Awards for the third year running.

Cured ham supplier Broadland Hams is now back in business after the fire that destroyed its Norwich plant in November. The company has relocated from Sweet Briar Industrial Estate to Little Melton Foodpark.

The National Farmers’ Union (NFU) has warned livestock farmers of the appearance of a new virus causing abortions and fetal abnormalities in ruminants. There has been no cases of Schmallenberg virus in the UK, but the disease has now spread to Belgium after being first observed in the Netherlands and Germany last summer.

Tesco’s shares have plummeted after the retailer announced that Christmas trading was “well below expectations”.

Tesco PLC shares fell 15% this morning following the release of the company’s Christmas and New Year Trading Statement, which reported a 2.3% fall in like-for-like sales excluding VAT and fuel.

Highlights of agriculture minister Jim Paice's speech at the Oxford Farming Conference 2012.

Pig bosses have launched a survey looking for views on the state of the industry across the board.

The British Retail Consortium (BRC) has said that the strong December trading figures reflected a combination of “major one-off” factors rather than indicating a solid resurgence in the retail sector.

Talented butchers and budding charcutiers are being urged to get involved in a new competition which is being dubbed as the food and drink world’s answer to The Turner Prize.

The industry has welcomed the greater commitment from government to increasing food exports, announced by the Secretary of State at the Oxford Farming Conference last week, as newly released figures show growth in meat exports leading the way.

Makro has recalled several of its tapas meat products after they were found to be contaminated with listeria.

The National Beef Association (NBA) Scotland is holding a meeting on CAP reform this week and has invited members of the Scottish Beef Cattle Association to participate, in the first move to unite the two bodies which represent beef farmers in Scotland.

The Pig Grading Information System (PiGIS) has won the Oxford Farming Conference/Royal Agricultural Society of England (RASE) Practice with Science award.

Lincolnshire Prime Meat Company has gone into administration due to financial difficulties that led to a £1.4m debt. Insolvency practitioners SFP has been appointed administrator and is currently trying to sell the business.

Jim Paice talks to Meat Trades Journal about the Groceries Code Adjudicator, the Animal Health and Welfare Board and opening the export market, after his speech at the Oxford Farming Conference.

Morrisons saw a slowdown in like-for-like sales over the Christmas trading period, despite a boost in customer numbers.

Eblex is urging producers to ensure that livestock being presented for slaughter meets cleanliness guidelines to avoid incurring additional hygiene controls that increase costs and lower returns.

Antibiotics given to farm animals are unlikely to cause antimicrobial resistance in humans, new research has revealed. The British Veterinary Association (BVA) has welcomed the findings, questioning the EU’s decision to ban the prophylactic use of antimicrobials in livestock.

A West Yorkshire farm shop has bought both the champion and the reserve champion at Skipton Auction Mart’s opening New Year show and sale.

Compassion in World Farming (CIWF) has launched a new campaign to end live animal exports, which was unveiled in London by actress and campaigner Joanna Lumley.

NFU vice-president Meurig Raymond has asked the British Retail Consortium (BRC) to encourage members to invest in British pork.

The appeal came after a speaker at the Oxford Farming Conference revealed that 58% of the pigmeat consumed in the UK was imported, mostly from countries with lower welfare standards.

A meat processor is to enter talks with staff following a proposal to shut down part of its Yorkshire-based operation.

Industry leaders have warned that stricter nitrate regulations could be detrimental to livestock farmers, after Defra announced a review of the current directive. 


The meat industry has hit back against calls from a former government advisor for a dramatic reduction in meat consumption to fight obesity and climate change.


Professor Tim Lang, who has advised the World Health Organisation and the Department for Environment on food policy, told The Telegraph that meat consumption was “out of control” and said people should return to the past tradition of saving meat for special occasions.

Agriculture minister Jim Paice has reasserted Defra’s commitment to implement the Groceries Code Adjudicator (GCA), after concerns emerged over possible delays.

Leading canned meat manufacturer Princes has reported record sales in the year to 31 March 2011, with sales growing 8% to £1.184b, and a 5% increase in profit after tax. Annual sales outside the UK grew significantly, with international turnover up 40% to £225m.

A butcher from Dumfries and Galloway has won the World Scotch Pie championship, taking the title back from the bakers.

J G Renicks beat nearly 90 other entries to take the top prize including last year’s winner, baker Maurice Irvine of Beith, and Greenhalgh’s, which has 60 outlets in the north-west of England.

An investigation has been launched after an abattoir butcher was injured when an animal bolt gun went off accidentally in his hands.

The Meat Advisory Panel (MAP) has developed a series of factsheets outlining the nutritional value and health benefits of meat for consumers, in a bid to dispel the myths and misinformation surrounding red meat.

The results of the 13th World Scotch Pie Championships will be announced today at the Conference Centre at Carnegie College, Dunfermline.

Bpex’s has hailed its ‘Pork Promise’ campaign a success and claims that more shoppers are now actively looking for Red Tractor logo pork products.

The campaign, launched in autumn 2011, used outdoor poster, print and online advertisments and social media activity to highight the reasons to choose quality-assured pork and explain the standards behind the Red Tractor logo.

Defra is creating a network of rural and farming groups across the UK to help it better understand and promote the interests of rural communities and businesses, Agriculture Minister Jim Paice announced today at the Oxford Farming Conference.

Consumers are being urged to write to their MPs to persuade them to support a parliamentary early day motion (EDM) which calls for improved country-of-origin labelling (COOL) on meat and meat products.

The UK has a voluntary code of conduct, but the European Parliament (EP) voted in favour of extending country-of-origin labelling to fresh meat from pigs, sheep, goat and poultry across member states, in July last year.

A police investigation is under way following the theft of a captive bolt gun from Vion’s Broxburn plant.

One of the West Country’s best-known butcher’s has been ordered to pay a total of £15,000 in fines and costs after claiming its beef and lamb was 'local' when in fact it had come from as far away as Shropshire.

Gerald David and Family Ltd, which owns a number of shops in Devon and Somerset, was fined £3,000 and ordered to pay £12,000 costs at Bridgwater Magistrates Court in Somerset on 19 December, having entered guilty pleas to six charges that its labelling of beef and lamb was misleading consumers.

A Scottish meat processor was celebrating after six of its staff successfully completed Modern Apprenticeship courses in meat and poultry processing.

Rural insurer NFU Mutual estimates that sheep rustling increased by two-and-a-half times in 2011, costing £6m to the industry. More than 60,000 sheep could have been stolen between January and October 2011, continuing the upwards trend observed in the last decade.

The president of the National Farmers Union (NFU) has said that he remains “optimistic” about the future of British farming, despite the challenges that lie ahead in 2012.

The European Parliament's agriculture committee has backed a plan to increase US hormone-free beef imports by 25,000t in exchange for the removal of trade sanctions on other EU products. All MEPs will vote on the motion in March, but the industry has already welcomed the move as a step towards the end of the hormone trade war between the EU and the US.

The NFU has declared that a review of nitrate directives was “premature and unnecessary”, after Defra launched a four-month consultation aiming to shape a revised set of regulations. The new rules, which will come into force in January 2013 could include the expansion of Nitrate Vulnerable Zones (NVZs) to the whole of England, instead of the current 62%.

ABP UK has applied for planning permission to update its Murton Lane abattoir in York. The developments will not increase capacity, but will improve animal welfare and sustainability.

Bpex have announced a battle of the bacon to kick of activities for next year’s Bacon Connoisseur’s Week.

Under the theme of ‘Red, White & Bacon’, the week will run from 19-25 March 2012 and celebrate the British love of bacon. Ahead of the event, Bpex are inviting high street butchers, farm shops, manufacturers, retailers and catering suppliers to enter a competition to find the best traditional and innovative bacon cures.

A Scotch Beef campaign which helped increase sales of beef in London by 30% has been shortlisted for a major award by the Chartered Institute of Marketing.

Vion Food UK has doubled the intake of graduates to its management development programme in 2011. The company says that its 18-month Emerge programme stands out because it offers an internal mentoring scheme in conjunction with an external coaching programme.

A veterinary supply business is celebrating after landing new business following a government re-tendering exercise.

The Scottish Association of Meat Wholesalers (SAMW) has expressed concern over the future level of Scottish livestock, despite a report published this week showing that the decline in beef numbers seems to be showing some localised stabilisation. 

Three butchers who trade within a stone’s throw of each other in the same Lincolnshire town bought the best beef cattle at this month’s Smithfield Festival, the latest incarnation of the famous Royal Smithfield Show.

Bpex foodservice sector manager Tony Goodger has been listed alongside celebrity chef Jamie Oliver, as one of the most influential people in public sector catering.

British Sausage Week (BSW) generated £15.5m worth of total media coverage, up from the annual five year average of £11.4m, with increased sales of sausages of around £2m, according to organisers Bpex.

The 14th annual nationwide PR campaign ran from 31 October to 6 November and was fronted by Slade front man Noddy Holder. As well as the primary consumer campaign to drive positive media coverage and reaffirm sausages as a favourite, convenient and intrinsically British food, it was intended to provide a platform to promote the category more widely.  

A new report from WRAP has raised questions over the assumption that supermarket promotions cause food waste.

Consensus Action on Salt and Health (CASH) has advised consumers to cook their Christmas turkey at home to cut salt levels by over 50%.

The Farm Animal Welfare Council (FAWC) has called for the alignment of welfare standards to help consumers choose higher welfare meat.

A former Vion director has been announced as the new managing director of the ANM Group’s meat division.

An attempt to install CCTV in a south Wales meat plant led to Food Standards Agency (FSA) bosses threatening to withdraw services.

The move seems to fly in the face of calls by FSA chief executive Tim Smith, who has been pressing the meat industry to install CCTV, following claims by animal rights activists.


Scientists have discovered a 
molecule which they believe might be able to stop the spread of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD).


Euro Quality Lambs (EQL) has supplied Red Tractor halal lamb to a charity event attended by HRH Prince Charles to raise money for the flood victims of Pakistan.

An Oxfordshire farmer has created a real buzz on the internet with a Christmas video he made for his customers. The video, which shows Colin Dawes and his staff singing, dancing and performing everyday tasks around the farm and butcher’s shop, has had over 50,000 hits on twitpic and Youtube.

Interview with Kantar Worldpanel communications director Ed Garner. As consumers cut down on their going-out budget, there is an opportunity for retailers to capitalise on premium food.

Butchers should dust off their rolling pins and roll out their pastry for the 2012 British Pie Awards, which are now officially open to entries.

Wholesaler John Penny and Sons has produced a video explaining the benefits of good-quality meat from the local butcher.

Budgens has ramped up its a pre-Christmas marketing campaign with an extensive radio campaign, which is being aired over 29 radio channels in the run-up to Christmas.

The head of the National Pig Association has written to planners refuting claims that a large-scale pig unit in Foston would pose a threat to human health.

In the letter to Derbyshire County Council, NPA chairman Stewart Houston said that that criticism levelled at Midland Pig Producers’ proposals by the Soil Association had been “distinctly selective” and urged planners to be guided by the facts as presented.

Two organisations representing beef farmers in Scotland have announced an intention to unite and form a single, independent body. The Scottish Beef Cattle Association (SBCA) and National Beef Association Scotland (NBAS) have been discussing a union for two years and are now calling on Scottish beef farmers to endorse the move.

The National Beef Association (NBA) and the National Farmers’ Union (NFU) have welcomed Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman’s announcement that two badger cull areas will be licensed in 2012. The pilot culls will take place in early autumn to determine how safe, effective and humane the method is before potentially expanding it to the rest of England.

The food charity FareShare is calling on the meat industry to work with it to redistribute surplus product to thousands of people facing hunger in the UK.

Eblex has released a report highlighting the importance of livestock production for English landscapes. The organisation hopes to give perspective to the argument that meat consumption should be reduced to save the environment.

Landscapes without Livestock is an independent report conducted by Land Use Consultants (LUC) for Eblex, and depicts the evolution of the country’s landscapes in the next 30 years if livestock were to disappear from it.

Defra has called on the farming and agri-food industry in England to present its views on the proposed EU reform to the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), as part of an informal consultation process.

Retail expert Mary Portas has issued a stark warning to the high street, saying that shops need to provide something new if they want to compete in the changing face of British retail.

Portas was commissioned by the government to conduct an independent review on the future of UK town centres and high street. Publishing her review today (13 December), she has come up with 28 points which she believes will create sustainable high streets of the future.  

The chairman of Danish meat company Tican has warned Danish pig producers that they must endeavour to meet the improved animal welfare standards demanded by UK consumers and retailers, according to Danish newspaper Landbrugasavisen.

The meat industry is holding its breath to see if the new fiscal pact agreed by 17 EU member states, vetoed by David Cameron, will have any implications for red meat exports to the European Union.

The National Farmers Union (NFU) is urging shoppers who want to buy locally reared, good-quality Christmas turkey to head online.

The Prince of Wales has hosted a lunchtime reception at Clarence House with leading catering suppliers and restaurateurs in a bid to promote sales of Cambrian Mountains lamb across the foodservice sector.

Standard turkey production has once again come under fire after animal welfare leaders claimed an increasing demand for higher-welfare products could outstrip supply.

According to the RSPCA, more than one in three adults (34%) would choose a higher-welfare turkey, either Freedom Food or free-range, this Christmas, while just 10% would go for the cheapest. However, the charity pointed out that only 7% of turkey production falls under the Freedom Food standards.

With the date for National Butchers’ Week in the diary and preparations under way across the country, MTJ spoke to some of last year’s participants about why to get involved and how to make the most out of the week.

Thomas’s Butchers in Corsham has been very successful since opening on 17 November in the presence of former MP Neil Hamilton and TV celebrity wife Christine.

A Warwick butcher has teamed up with a local estate agent to launch a novel promotional campaign to attract new customers to the shop in the run-up to Christmas.

Some butchers have chosen to discontinue ready-to-eat food, as enforcement of the Food Standards Agency’s (FSA) E.coli guidelines issued in February is getting tougher. This is affecting their viability and could lead to shop closures in the long-term, the National Federation of Meat and Food Traders (NFMFT) has warned.

The Scottish Federation of Meat Traders Association (SFMTA) has urged its members to keep up with the price rise in livestock, and maintain a competitive edge through promoting their status as quality craft butchers.

Food Standards Agency (FSA) bosses are coming under fire from some in the meat industry who question the reliability of its audit process. The claims, made by the Association of Independent Meat Suppliers (AIMS), follow on from the news that Summers Poultry, the plant that took an injunction out to stop the FSA withdrawing its services, has been granted an A Grade, following a recent BRC audit.

Butchers are inviting shoppers to attend free 10-minute sessions to reduce the stress caused by Christmas dinner. A Q Guild survey has revealed that three-quarters of British people suffer stress when buying and preparing Christmas meat, with one in 10 describing the experience as more stressful than a first day in a new job.

NFU president Peter Kendall has asked the European Commission (EC) to improve farmers’ competitiveness with supply chain legislation. He believes EU regulation could help rectify the power imbalance between supermarkets and the agricultural sector.

UK producers have responded to the challenge of European food safety leaders and pledged to cut the use of antibiotics in poultry production.

2 Sisters Food Group is increasing its stake in the chilled foods and ready meals sector by buying Premier Foods’ business Brookes Avana for £30m. 

Scotland’s top scientific advisor has been appointed as the EU’s first chief scientist, two years after the EU President pledged to create the role.

Farmers are celebrating after a key vote in the European Commission delayed an Electronic Identification (EID) requirement for individual movement recording of the ‘historic’ sheep flock for three years.

The poultry industry gathered in London this week to celebrate individual achievements that have boosted the sector in the past or will do so in the future.

November saw the worst sales growth in UK retail for six months, with subdued food sales little changed from October’s 5-month low, figures from the British Retail Consortium have revealed.

Eblex has developed a new online tool to help butchers maximise the effectiveness of their cabinet displays.
Available on the retail section of the website www.eblextrade.co.uk, the free-to-use tool contains advice and information on merchandising techniques and consumer shopper behaviour.

The National Beef Association (NBA) has welcomed news that farmers across the UK have already started receiving their single farm payments.

Irish private vets have voted in favour of industrial action to protest against the government’s decision to transfer part of meat plant inspections to civil servants. Meat Industry Ireland (MII) has warned that the strike would disrupt production and exports at a crucial time, and urged both sides to settle the dispute in a responsible manner.

Meat processors, along with other businesses, have been urged to plan ahead in preparation for a potential summer drought. An Environment Agency report has revealed that water shortage was very likely after one of the driest springs on record.

Red Lion Foods will offer Christmas meals to two families who have members serving abroad this year, as part of an online competition.

Marks & Spencer is increasing its venison range for Christmas, after recording a 78% rise in sales in stores across the UK and Ireland.

A Scottish butcher and processor has won a prestigious award in recognition of his business achievements.

The Scottish government has applied to the United States Department of Argriculture (USDA) to lift the ban currently imposed on red meat imports from Scotland.

Health protection experts have warned that chicken liver pâté is a major source of camplybacter infection in the UK, accounting for 90% of outbreaks at catering venues in 2011.

According to figures from the Health Protection Agency (HPA), there have been a total of 18 outbreaks of campylobacter infection in the UK this year, with more than 443 people taken ill. Fourteen of these outbreaks occured in catering venues and 13 of these were linked to chicken or duck liver pâté.

The impact of the meat inspectors’ strikes on 30 November has been described as ‘mixed’ by the British Meat Processors Association (BMPA) and although some of its members were seriously affected, the majority were able to operate a normal service.

A Norfolk poultry producer has negotiated a temporary pay-cut with its 600 staff in order to see it through financial difficulties.

The NFU has welcomed the news that the EU is delaying a decision on its controversial plans to introduce stringent changes to feed regulations in organic poultry production from 1 January, and urged producers to carry on as normal.

A leading meat wholesaler has signed a deal with a food ingredients supplier to bring a new competitive range to market.

A young butcher and farmer’s son has capped off a memorable year by retaining the title of Welsh Young Butcher of the Year for the third year on the trot.

A bid to offer ethical, UK-produced game birds has taken off after landing a number of foodservice accounts.

Red Tractor welfare standards have come under fire from two animal welfare organisations in a new consumer guide to be published in the run-up to Christmas.

Farmers sold their livestock for record prices at the Skipton Auction Mart’s Christmas primestock show. Supreme championship was awarded to a British Blue-cross heifer, a Beltex-cross lamb trio, and a Pietrain-cross-Large White pig trio.

A Chester butcher has won £1,000 in an Eblex lamb display competition.

Vaughan’s Family Butchers’ in Penyffordd in Chester won the award for creating an eye-catching display in its counter using new, alternative cuts of lamb.

The European Commission (EC) is calling for changes in packaging in an effort to reduce food waste. Labels could soon display two dates to avoid customers throwing away food that is still safe.

The Co-operative has recalled "a limited number" of its British beef roasting joints due to incorrect labelling. The packs displayed a 'use by' date of 22 and 23 December 2011 instead of 5 December 2011.

The National Farmers Union (NFU) has welcomed Chancellor George Osborne’s autumn statement, saying it recognises the importance of the farming and food sectors in today’s economy.

The Pig and Poultry Fair is set to return to Stoneleigh Park in Warwickshire on 15 and 16 May 2012.

Funding for UK food security has received a significant boost after the Chancellor of the Exchequer unveiled £80m for the development of further research facilities at the BBSRC’s Institute for Animal Health (IAH).

Sainsbury’s has announced it recalled some of its beef range earlier this month, but stressed it was down to quality problems, and not food safety.

Shipments of Welsh lamb to Canada have started, meat promotion agency Hybu Cig Cymru (HCC) has announced. The organisation travelled there earlier this year to discuss trade with potential importers, after the Canadian government granted Welsh processors permission to export lamb to the country in July.

Butchers are being offered a new range of premium beef products with the launch of a new brand from Scotch Premier Meat.

Businesses are set to benefit from a credit-easing programme, while a scrapped fuel duty rise has been welcomed by logistics providers.

Health protection experts have confirmed that an outbreak of food poisoning at a Salford hotel was caused by campylobacter.

A North Yorkshire meat processing company has been fined after fluids from animal skins leaked out of a shipping container.

Volumes of red meat exported to EU and non-EU countries have increased by 22% year on year, due to strong growth in the beef and bacon markets, Eblex has revealed. Overall red meat exports now represent £754.6m, up from £606.3m in 2010.

Beef and veal exports went up 36% compared to last year, and the organisation attributes these results to growing trade with established markets and the opening of shipments to non-EU countries.

Agriculture experts have hit back at criticism over antibiotic use on farms, calling for stronger regulation within human treatment.

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has vowed to take action against an injunction preventing it from withdrawing a poultry plant’s licence to operate.


The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has warned of possible disruptions in abattoirs, as over 650 meat hygiene inspectors have been balloted 
about a public service strike planned on Wednesday (30 November) to protest against low pensions.

Meat industry representatives have reacted furiously to claims by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) that there is a culture of bullying and harassment in some sectors of 
the industry.


In an exclusive interview with Meat Trades Journal (November 25 issue, page 8), FSA chief executive Tim Smith said that, in a small percentage of plants, there is “systematic and routine bullying and harassing” of FSA staff, which is both physical and verbal in nature. 


Premier Foods has announced another change to its leadership team, only weeks after getting rid of the role of chief operating officer and unveiling a new business plan.

High cull cow disposals are a cause for ‘real alarm’ for the meat industry, according to the Scottish Association of Meat Wholesalers (SAMW). The association warned that calf numbers have declined significantly since last year and predicted that next spring will show another severe reduction.

Meat companies have been invited to contribute to a new training scheme in order to bridge the gap between processors and workers. The initiative could help reduce the meat industry’s need to rely on migrant workforce.

Partly funded by the government, the project includes a pre-employment training programme designed to ensure 600 currently unemployed people get a job in the food and drinks sector.

Butchers tell Meat Trades Journal what they think about National Butchers' Week and how to get the most out of it.

A new study suggests that the correlation between prostate cancer and red meat is driven primarily by overcooking on a grill or barbecue.

Tulip Ltd has announced the aquisition of Parkam Foods, Trophy Foods, Freshway Foods and Transfoods.

The processor said the deal would give it the opportunity to gain entry to beef and poultry markets, as well as adding sandwich and sandwich filler production to its product portfolio.

Scottish beef farmers feel more confident about the future than a year ago, but are concerned about the CAP reform, a Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) survey has revealed.

Exhibitors at last weekend’s English Winter Fair livestock showcase at Stafford saw a signicant increase in returns, according to auctioneers Bagshaws. The auctioneers put the increase down to a strong trade for beef, lamb and pork.

The Dairy Event and Livestock Show is to be rebranded as Livestock 2012 in a bid to continue to build on the recent success of the exhibition.

The Royal Association of British Dairy Farmers (RABDF) said the annual two-day specialist business-to-business event, staged at The NEC in Birmingham, will be called Livestock Incorporating Dairy Event from next year and will be held during the first week of July from 2013 onwards.

Eblex is offering 300 marketing kits to help farm shops promote their beef and lamb over the Christmas period.

Processors still have time to submit their entries for Meat Trades Journal’s annual Meat & Poultry Processing Awards.

The awards recognise the hard work and excellence that goes on across the processing sector. Now in their third year, they are starting to build momentum and last year saw a big jump in entries from companies keen to take home a title.

Leeds butchers were celebrating after reigning supreme at the 2011 Great Yorkshire Pork Pie, Sausage & Products Competition this weekend.

Bpex has appointed Tulip agricultural director Andrew Saunders as a new board member following the retirement of John Hughes.

The Bpex Professional Manager Development Scheme (PMDS) will return in January 2012, with 10 pig unit managers selected to take part.

The RSPCA has made CCTV a mandatory requirement for all abattoirs operating in its Freedom Food scheme and called for it to become mandatory in all slaughterhouses.

Dr Marc Cooper, senior scientific manager from the RSPCA’s farm animals science team, said his organisation firmly believed that mandatory installation of CCTV would make the slaughter process more transparent and improve welfare for farm animals in the UK.

Former Coronation Street star Charlie Lawson will be lending his support to a game meat promotion this December.

Butchers were in the spotlight ahead of MTJ's Butcher's Shop of the Year Awards last week on BBC Radio London.

A man has died after being crushed by a falling carcase at an abattoir in Paisley.

Police are investigating a series of apparently related attacks against butchers’ shops in the Bristol area. Six family butchers have been attacked a total of 11 times since the beginning of September.

An alliance, composed of Compassion in World Farming (CIWF), The Soil Association and Sustain, has released a report to raise awareness on the dangers of antibiotics overuse in farm animals. The launch coincides with European Antibiotic Awareness Day 2011.

“Antibiotics have had a huge effect on human health. We have developed a resistance to them because they are used for prophylactic purposes on factory farm animals that are not even sick,” a CIWF spokesperson said.

Meat processing giant 2 Sisters Food Group has appointed a new finance director, Steve Henderson, and a chair of the audit committee, Andrew Cripps.

Organised by the Meat Trades Journal, the Butcher's Shop of the year awards celebrate the hard work and achievements of the country's best butchers. The winner of the 2011 UK title is John Davidson, of Davidsons Specialist Butchers in Scotland.

A Scottish butcher has taken the title of best in the UK after beating off competition from across the country in the annual Butcher’s Shop of the Year Awards.

Eblex has welcomed the news that lamb offal had been made available from the meat counter at Waitrose, saying it would help maximise carcase value.

The FSA board has agreed a set of guidelines for slaughterhouses that use CCTV for animal welfare purposes.

Meat leaders have welcomed calls for more Red Tractor-assured produce to be served in schools as a step in the right direction.

The NFU and the Badger Trust are working together to vaccinate badgers on two farms owned by NFU members. This trial run is meant to assess this effectiveness of the injectable vaccination of badgers to combat bovine tuberculosis (bTB).

Defra ministers have rejected the EU Agriculture Commissioner’s draft proposals on CAP reform, claiming they are inadequate to make farming more competitive and protect the environment.

Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman led a delegation of UK ministers to meet Commissioner Dacian Ciolos and express their concerns ahead of today’s negotiations on the proposed reform in Brussels.

Red meat processor Dunbia has launched an export marketing agreement with the Beltex Sheep Society, with a premium of up to 30p/kg on selected lambs. Up to 1,200 Beltex cross sheep will be sold every week to an agreed Belgian buyer.

Household food waste has fallen by 13% over the past three years, with significant benefits to the environment and the UK economy.

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) will hold an open Board meeting at its headquarters in London today at 1pm.

A Suffolk beef and sheep farmer has started an e-petition asking for mandatory front-of-pack labelling on non-UK meat in supermarkets and other food outlets. Jeremy Perkins started the initiative when he found a campaign supporting UK troops on a pack of meat produced in South America at Sainsbury’s.

The 2005 EU regulation on livestock transportation has had limited impact on animal welfare, but has increased overall costs for transport companies, according to a survey by the European Commission (EC).

Soy protein provider Solbar is launching two application products to improve the taste and texture of whole-muscle and cured meat items.

Learn, be unique, and look for exposure. This is what 21-year-old, first-generation sheep farmer Gareth Barlow has done to make his business successful. He now sells his lamb to Michelin-starred restaurants.

The EU has announced that it will cut spend on animal disease programmes by €45m next year.

Ministers made the decision at the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health (SCoFCAH) meeting last week, pledging €203m (£184m) to support programmes to eradicate and control animal disease in 2012.

Two poultry businesses have been fined after their employees were seriously injured in falls on their premises.

Llynclys Farm Ltd in Shropshire was fined £6,000 after an employee fell from an unguarded platform and fractured his pelvis, while Crown Chicken in Norfolk was fined £3,500 after a factory worker fell from an unsecured ladder and broke his back.

A bacon and ham smoking plant operating in Norwich for more than 25 years has been destroyed in a blaze. The Broadland Hams plant on the Sweet Briar Industrial Estate was completely gutted by the fire last week. (Nov 10)

A man has been killed in an industrial accident at the John Pointon and Sons rendering plant in Staffordshire.

The Isle of Man's new agriculture minister Phil Gawne has re-asserted his desire to save the island’s only abattoir.

Responding to press reports suggesting a u-turn over plans to safeguard the plant, the minister said he was keen to go ahead with the restructure, but will change the plan set by his predecessor. “Clearly we need to restructure the plant, but we haven’t got a lot of funds available, so we are looking at different mechanisms,” he said.

The government has said that it may consider extending the shooting season into February. The statement came in response to questions posed in Parliament by Democratic Unionist MP Jim Shannon.

Medical experts have dismissed claims that new research proves that eating overcooked meat is twice as likely to cause cancer than previously thought.

The British Meat Processors Association (BMPA) has expressed concern that ministers are considering making CCTV mandatory in slaughterhouses to monitor animal welfare.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is investigating following a serious injury to a worker at a meat processing plant in the Midlands.

A Daily Mail article has reignited tensions over the processed animal protein (PAP) ban after claiming Britain could be facing a new Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease (CJD) outbreak if it was relaxed for non-ruminant feed.

The article stated that the European Commission’s proposal to allow pigs to be fed poultry meat and vice versa could lead to Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy (TSE), the condition that prompted the ban after the 1980s mad cow scandal.

A new range of pies has been launched by two self-proclaimed ‘grumpy old men’ from Cornwall in collaboration with prize-winning Launceston butcher, Philip Warren’s.

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has laid down the key principles for establishing the future meat controls programme, which, once agreed with ministers, will form the basis of the UK position in EU negotiations to modernise meat controls across the EU.

A new £20m fund to boost profits for rural businesses and reduce their impact on the environment has been launched today by Agriculture Minister Jim Paice.

More than 650 meat hygiene inspectors have been balloted about industrial action over pensions on 30th November, and have voted in favour of striking.

Leading sausage case manufacturer Devro announced that sales volumes had shown strongth growth in the period from 1 July 2011 to date, compared to the same time last year, and confirmed that it is on course to meet expectations for the current year.

Research undertaken by the University of Edinburgh has shown that it may be possible to manage bovine TB through the use of selective breeding, which could be implemented in UK farming in as little as two years. 

Denhay Farms’ dry-cured bacon has been crowned Best of the West for the second time in a row. Judges from the Taste of the West Awards held in Cornwall on 1 November said it was “an excellent product in all respects”.

Meat processors have joined the call for a high-speed beef and sheep database to record animal movements and assurance statuses.

Stephen Rossides, director of the British Meat Processors Association (BMPA), said that a database could enhance disease controls and help reduce the impact of animal disease outbreak, as well as meeting a range of other industry needs, including verification of the assurance status of animals.

Game promotion body Game-to-Eat is supporting a charity dinner to be held in aid of ABF The Soldier’s Charity and The Clink Charity on Tuesday 22nd at the Maze Inn, Southgate, London.