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.”
