Meat buyers warned not to ‘cut corners’

The Meat and Livestock Commission (MLC) is warning caterers that cutting corners when it comes to buying meat poses a serious threat to the health of their customers and to their businesses.

The warning comes after it was reported by the BBC that McLaren Foods, a catering butcher, had gone into administration following allegations by an employee it transported rotten meat for delivery to hotels, schools and hospitals.

Although no action can taken against the Ashord-based business because it went into administration in March, MLC foodservice trade manager Tony Goodger says all caterers should sit up and take notice.

"When it comes to meat, chefs and catering buyers should remember that best value isn't the cheapest - it's the safest.

"As a customer you have every right to make your own spot checks on suppliers. The best option is to buy assured meat that has been independently audited along the supply chain. Good catering butchers have nothing to hide but buying cheaper meat can lead to problems such as this."

One of McLaren's biggest customers was contractor Sodexho.

In a statement the company said: "In September 2005, McLaren Foods Ltd was selected as a supplier following rigorous inspections by Sodexho's technical experts. As well as meeting Sodexho's high standards, McLaren was accredited by the European Food Safety Inspection Service (EFSIS), one of the leading global inspection and certification experts.

"On-going unannounced audits were carried out by Safegard, Sodexho's environmental health and safety experts, and by external local environmental health officers. During the time McLaren supplied Sodexho, it passed all the Safegard inspections and maintained the stringent standards required to pass the audits.

"Sodexho also has strict delivery procedures which ensure that all deliveries are signed for and quality inspections are completed.

"At the beginning of March 2007, McLaren went into administration and ceased to be a supplier of Sodexho."

Another McLaren customer was the Dorchester Hotel in Park Lane, London where the meat was supplied to Charlton House Catering for use in the staff canteen, which it was contracted to operate.

Dorchester general manager Christopher Cowdray said: "I can confirm that McLaren Foods did supply meat to The Dorchester solely for use in the staff canteen, which is overseen by Charlton House Catering.

"However, these orders were reduced during 2006 before being stopped completely in December 2006 and alternative suppliers used. We take the health of our staff very seriously and temperature records were kept for all meat deliveries supplied by McLaren Foods.

"We are satisfied that at no point was the health of our staff put at risk by products supplied by this company."

And a spokesman for Charlton House added: "We were concerned about the financial stability of McLaren at the beginning of 2007, following these concerns we then ceased trading with them in March 2007.

"McLaren was a supplier to the Dorchester between July 2005 and December 2006. However during this period McLaren was not the sole supplier of meat to the Dorchester.

"Temperatures of all food delivered are always recorded and filed at the site for six months, they are then sent to Head Office to be archived. All Charlton House suppliers are fully audited before we commence trading with them and all of our units have a choice of suppliers to use."

Words: David Foad

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