Thursday 14 February 2013

Stephen Metcalfe MP stands up for constituents in horse meat fiasco


Stephen Metcalfe, local MP for South Basildon and East Thurrock, rose in the House of Commons today to stand up for constituents who have been defrauded by the horse meat scandal.

Mr Metcalfe’s comments come in the midst of great controversy surrounding the sale of ‘beef’ products which have been found to contain substantial amounts of horse meat. Supermarkets Tesco’s, Co-op, Lidl, Aldi have all stocked horse meat products while Findus beef lasagne was also found to a prime culprit.

The local MP for South Basildon and East Thurrock said to the Minister of State for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, David Heath MP: “Families in Basildon and Thurrock have been defrauded in the food that they have bought. Does the Minister share my anger that the retailers have allowed that to happen?”

To which the Minister responded: “We should all be outraged that people have been given meat that is not as described on the packet. The Government stand four-square with the consumer who goes into the shop and buys the product, and say, “This will not do.”

“It is unacceptable and those who have allowed it to happen, whether through insufficient checking or criminal activity, must be brought to book.”

Mr Metcalfe commented: “Whilst I must stress that there is no human health risk to this scandal, it is simply unacceptable that the people of South Basildon and East Thurrock have been so grossly mislead.”

“I welcome the Governments staunch position on this issue and hope that the perpetrators of this crime feel the full force of the law.”