Representatives from the Food Standards Agency’s (FSA) crime division, together with Dyfed-Powys Police, arrested a man in Wales last week (Wednesday 4 December).
“Officers from the National Food Crime Unit, working with Dyfed-Powys Police, arrested a 52-year-old man from West Wales on suspicion of conspiracy to supply unfit meat, as part of an investigation into alleged illegal and unsafe meat,” informed Neil Castle, deputy head of the Food Standard Agency’s crime division.
This is the sixth arrest made in connection with the discovery of suspected illegal meat, which was seized on 25 November 2024 in London, when officers found multiple unrefrigerated vans that contained 48 sheep carcasses.
The meat is suspected to have undergone a smoking process, wherein the fleece off the carcass is singed to leave the surface of the meat with a smoky colour and the carcass with a strong smoky smell. ‘Smokies’, as it’s termed, is illegal in the UK.
“Smokies are a food safety issue as they aren’t produced under hygienic conditions, and they are illegal because the meat still has its skin on and lacks traceability,” Castle added.
The meat was also not traceable; in UK meat should have traceability from farm to fork and be subject to checks by FSA vets and meat hygiene inspectors.
“We are advising people to steer clear of sheep meat produced in this way as it may be a health risk, and to contact their local Trading Standards or us if they suspect smokies are being produced or sold,” Castle concluded.
All six men have been released under investigation.
