Horsemeat prosecutions look unlikely: FoodChain Europe

Criminal prosecutions following the horsemeat scandal were unlikely, according to consultancy group FoodChain Europe.

In this exclusive video for FoodManufacture.co.uk, Stuart Shotton, consultancy services director at FoodChain Europe, said he was “not overly confident” any criminal prosecutions would happen because history had proved they rarely occurred as a result of food fraud.

“If you look at past examples – such as melamine in milk powder and Sudan dye – there have not really been any high-profile prosecutions.”

Food fraud

Shotton’s views were echoed by speakers at FoodChain Europe’s Combating food fraud conference in Birmingham this week (May 21).

Kathryn Gilbertson, director at Greenwoods Solicitors, said she was “not confident” that criminal prosecutions would result.

Watch this video to find out why Shotton believes Skype could protect businesses from becoming the victims of food fraud and why he thinks food manufacturers need to assess the risks associated with every products – especially high value and high volume ones.

Shotton also encouraged managers to ask: ‘If I were looking to gain from food fraud or adulteration, what and how would I do it?’ that strategy would help to protect their businesses, he said.