Hotline launched to combat ongoing food crimes
MEAT eaters in Mid Argyll worried about the traceability of their food will soon have all the answers with the start of Scotland’s first food crime hotline.
The initiative, jointly run by Food Standards Scotland (FSS) and Crimestoppers, gives members of the public and the food industry a dedicated telephone line to anonymously report any food crime suspicions.
The freephone number will be available
4 hours a day, seven days a week. Those concerned can post via a non-traceable online form. Food crime relates to a deliberate manipulation, mislabelling substitution, or instance of fraud in relation to food.
The new initiative, which has its roots in the 01 horsemeat scandal, means the FSS Scottish Food Crime and Incidents Unit can target food crimes costing the UK food and drink industry an estimated 1.1 billion every year.
Geoff Ogle, Food Standards Scotland chief executive, said The launch of the hotline is one of several steps FSS is taking to address the problem in Scotland. We hope it will raise awareness of the issue of food crime, and give consumers a trusted point of contact to report concerns in complete anonymity.’
Allan Bowie, NFU Scotland president, said Farmers, crofters and growers in Scotland consistently work hard to produce high-quality, safe food. This new helpline will help identify unscrupulous operators who allow unsafe, untraceable food to enter the food chain.
The market for illicit food has meant farmers, crofters and consumers have been impacted by the likes of the horsemeat contamination scandal and illegal animal rustling in recent years, and we welcome any progress that can be made to combat this through the food crime new helpline.’
The hotline number is 0000 .