Church urges buying change after horse meat row

THE CHURCH in Wales has urged consumers to purchase meat from local farms – to support British agriculture and to protect themselves from the false labelling.

Revelations that Romanian horse and donkey meat had been repackaged as beef and sold in prepared food products in 13 EU countries, including Britain and Ireland, has prompted the Welsh Church’s Rural Life Advisers to urge consumers take more responsibility for what they buy.

The Bishop of Swansea and Brecon, the Rt Rev John Davies on 15 February said: “The recent publicity about the discovery of horse meat in processed food has raised a lot of questions about our food: quality, affordability, traceability, food miles, and the availability of produce that shoppers can buy with confidence.”

Europol, the EU’s police agency, reports that DNA tests have revealed that beef mixed with horse meat has been sold across Europe. Some products, including hamburgers, were found to contain as much as 30 per cent horse meat. Other products found to contain horse meet labelled as beef include frozen lasagna, tortellini, and Bolognese sauce. Three men were arrested last week in England and Wales in connection with the scandal and have been charged with fraud.

“Welsh farmers enjoy high levels of confidence and support from their local communities and have close links with local butchers and other shops,” said Bishop Davies – the Church in Wales’ spokesman on rural affairs.

“Seeking out retailers who can offer local knowledge and traceability is an excellent way to support Welsh farmers, butchers, and their communities as well as obtaining a product that is both trustworthy and tasty,” the Bishop said.