Union demands more meat hygiene checks

The meat hygiene regulations need to be tightened up and the number of meat safety inspectors working in abattoirs boosted, according to UNISON, the union that organises meat inspectors.

The union warned the meat industry not to wait for a food safety scare to hit the front pages, before taking action to stamp out meat contamination.

Simon Watson, UNISON national officer for meat hygiene inspectors, said: “Allowing abattoirs to police themselves on aspects of meat safety has failed. We need to beef up powers for independent meat safety inspectors, so the public can be sure that animals sent for slaughter are clean and dry.”

He added: “Inspectors need support to blow the whistle on health and safety violations, without fear of being victimised.”