Brazil rotten meat scandal - Sustain comment

"Whilst this huge case of fraud and corruption shows that controls and enforcement of safety regulations were inadequate, it also demonstrates how easy it is for massive operations combined with long and complex supply chains to result in huge public health risks.

The UK is highly likely to have imported some of the meat treated illegally with chemicals to hide the contamination. Whilst meat can be highly nutritious, clearly this kind of production and supply chain benefits no one but a few corporates and should be ended. 

We need to invest in less and better meat supplies largely based on low impact and high animal welfare systems as close to the market as possible to avoid contamination and risk of disease and fraud.”

Notes

1. In an urgent meeting today, EU officials are demanding clarity on the situation with Brazilian traders.
2. Operation Weak Flesh which exposed the food fraud was launched in the early hours of Friday 17 March 2017 in six Brazilian states after a two-year investigation. Large meat processors are accused of bribing health inspectors to certify tainted food as safe for public consumption.
3. Alternatives for consumers include buying direct from known local farmers and buying organic and pasture fed supplies where high welfare and production standards are assured and provenance of the meat can be traced. Government should take the chance afforded by Brexit to ensure our meat supply chain becomes the leader in sustainability, low impact and high welfare.