Morrisons launch investigation over contaminated minced beef

By Laurence Gibbons

- Last updated on GMT

Morrisons has been forced to launch an investigation into the contaminated beef
Morrisons has been forced to launch an investigation into the contaminated beef

Related tags Tns worldpanel

Morrisons has been forced to launch an investigation after a family reportedly found a sharp piece of plastic in a packet of the retailer’s minced beef.

The retailer confirmed to FoodManufacture.co.uk that it investigating claims a couple from Hull found a six-inch long and one-inch wide piece of plastic sticking out of the meat, but declined to comment any further.

Ian Moulson and Karen Cawkwell of Branshome made the discovery when they were preparing dinner for their two-year-old son Caleb on Saturday afternoon (June 13), according to the Hull Daily Mail.

Shocked and disgusted

Moulson admitted it was unlikely he would have cooked the meat without noticing the plastic, but said it was still “shocked” ​and “disgusted”​ by the discovery.

“There was a piece of plastic about six inches long and one inch across sticking out of the meat,” ​he told the local paper.

“This bit of plastic was very sharp and could have easily done some damage if I wasn’t careful.”

"It's something that could have been really dangerous to customers but the thing I can​t understand is how that piece of plastic got there in the first place.

"I can't believe it wasn't spotted by anyone before it went on the supermarket shelf.”

Morrisons did provide the couple with a replacement packet, but Moulson said he threw it straight in the bin.

Think twice about shopping there

He said the incident had made him think twice about shopping at Morrisons for cheaper deals on meat.

Morrisons told Moulson that it would take it four to six weeks to investigate the incident, he claimed.

The retailer declined to comment on the length of time the investigation could take.

The contamination will come as unwelcome news to Morrisons, which reported a rise in sales for the first time in 18 months, last month.

Its sales rise of 0.1% was a result of loyal customers responding well to a number of initiatives​ put in place since ceo David Potts took over in March, Kantar Worldpanel said.  

Related topics Meat, poultry & seafood

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2 comments

Wrong colour packaging

Posted by Bernard Powell,

Morrisons has started to display meat in blue trays which give the plastic recycling code. I picked up some chicken legs but when I got to the checkout I noticed the tray had been broken and a piece was missing. I did not see it when I picked it from the shelf. I said why not put the legs in a BLUE tray instead of white. Apparently it is packed by an outside company and not in store. This means the staff do not inspect the tray but just put it on the shelf. Clearly the staff need to be trained in HACCP.

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Mincing Mechanics

Posted by Derrick Blunden,

A six inch x one inch piece of plastic in a pack of minced beef! Wow that is some kind of mincer. Methinks it's one for Detective Chief Inspector Tom Barnaby

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