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UK: Abattoir fined after discovering spinal cord in meat 26 May 2009

A Carlisle abattoir has been slapped with a fine of 2,000 pounds for not taking out part of the spinal cord - which can be linked to BSE.
According to a report by newsandstar.co.uk, there was never any danger of the meat making its way into the food chain, Carlisle magistrates heard.
 
This has been said because it was seen during the company’s internal inspection process.
 
David Burton, the managing director of West Scottish Lamb Limited, who runs an abattoir at Kingstown, admitted failing to remove the material.
 
Risk material
According to Lee Fish, prosecuting on behalf of the Food Standards Agency (FSA), the company was a licensed slaughterhouse therefore was subject to regulations about removing ‘risk material’ from carcasses.
 
“In this case, it was the spinal cord, which has been linked to BSE, which is why it is very tightly regulated. It has to be removed before being sent off for human consumption,” stated Mr Fish.
 
Spotting of cord
A small piece of the chord was seen by an inspector in the last stages of production on June 5 2008.
 
“He was inspecting the final carcasses and noticed a small piece of spinal cord attached to a neck,” Mr Fish said.
 
“He asked the vet to inspect it and Mr Burton admitted there was a small piece of cord. He thought the vet was being very hard on him because it was small piece.”
 
Mr Burton will be testing a new £10,000 spinal cord suction machine.
 
Magistrates fined Mr Burton £2,000, ordered him to pay £1,061.21 in costs and a £15 victim surcharge.
 
Source: newsandstar.co.uk
 
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