Diners must be told where meat has come from, says Ross farmer
A FARMER and councillor has demanded all hotels and restaurants in the Highlands should be able to tell diners where their meat came from, in the wake of the horse meat scandal.
The region’s schools, care home and butchers have been given a clean bill of health by environmental health inspectors after they examined products for traces of horse.
Beef cattle producer and Black Isle councillor Billy Barclay welcomed the results but called for pressure to be applied on businesses after he was ordered out of an unnamed Inverness hotel because it could not tell him where his steak had been sourced from.
Councillor Barclay said he left the premises without finding out despite the row with the hotel staff.
“Several years ago I was banned from a hotel in Inverness when I disputed the origins of the beef,” he said. “I wasn’t going to go until I found out. That was seven years ago and I was quite disappointed.”
Councillor Barclay said all his farm animals were traceable and thought all restaurants should be able to provide the same amount of information.
He said it would give customers peace of mind and provide traceability, especially if the meat came from the Highlands, but claimed there was little appetite for the suggestion amongst businesses or the Scottish Government.
“There is no will,” added Councillor Barclay.
Alan Yates, the authority’s environmental health manager, told councillors in Inverness today that 83 samples in schools, care homes, butchers and takeaways, showed no traces of horse meat.
“I am pleased to say there was no contaminated food,” said Mr Yates, who added tests to determine whether any pork was contained in beef products would now be carried out.
The council wrote to the head teachers of its 177 primary schools, 29 secondaries and three special schools in response to the national debate last month amid the concerns surrounding the presence of horse meat in some UK food products.
It said its meat was sourced in the Highlands with full traceability.
