An investigation by the National Food Crime Unit (NFCU) into an alleged food factory that supplied Booths supermarket with beef labelled incorrectly as British has resulted in the arrest of three

individuals at Loscoe Chilled Foods in Derbyshire. The factory has been under investigation after it was suspected of providing products that were sourced from South America and Europe. The suspects were released under investigation. The products in question were pre-packed sliced meats and deli products.

On Wednesday, Derbyshire Police, Derbyshire County Council, and the NFCU made an unannounced visit to the Heanor Road factory in Derbyshire. Darren Davies, the head of the NFCU, emphasised that the investigation involves meat allegedly misrepresented as British, and that they are taking food fraud very seriously to protect the consumer. Booths supermarket had previously been informed of the potential issues in 2021.

London-based Booths has stated that all relevant products were removed from sale and they stopped trading with the supplier as soon as the potential issues were brought to their attention. The supermarket, which prides itself on selling 100% British beef, is not under investigation. With 30 stores across Lancashire, Yorkshire, Cumbria, and Cheshire, Booths is known for its commitment to quality British products.

Loscoe Chilled Foods, the company at the center of the investigation, has been unavailable for comment. The company's website, which previously provided general information, including contact details, has been stripped of this information. The website now highlights that Loscoe Chilled Foods has 100 years of experience supplying high-quality meat products to some of the largest retailers in the UK and EU.

This situation highlights the importance of food safety regulations and the need for companies to accurately label their products. Food fraud can have serious consequences for consumers, such as false allergen information, misrepresentation of country of origin, and substitution with cheaper ingredients. Photo by Alpha from Melbourne, Australia, Wikimedia commons.