Sheep meat sold as goat in West Sussex leads to prosecution

A wholesaler has been prosecuted by West Sussex Trading Standards after supplying sheep meat instead of goat, according to the county council.
NewsNews
News

A spokesman for West Sussex County Council said that Forge Farm Meats Ltd, based in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, has been ordered to pay more than £8,000 in fines and costs after goat meat it supplied to two West Sussex butchers was found to be sheep.

The company pleaded guilty to two offences under the Food Safety Act for supplying misrepresented goat legs to the two butchers, the spokesman added.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Following a customer complaint, Trading Standards officers covertly purchased 11 goat samples from West Sussex butchers and restaurants. Eight of these were found to be sheep meat.

Peter Aston, West Sussex Trading Standards team manager, said: “Traceability and correct labelling is vital as once butchered, goat meat is very difficult to tell apart from mutton or lamb.

“Some of the sources of the meat tested traced back to a Spanish cutting plant, so as a result we are sharing information from our investigation with the Food Standards Agency and Spanish authorities.

“So far our investigations into this fraud have led to two West Sussex butchers receiving cautions and a meat supplier to the catering industry receiving a warning letter.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

David Barling, West Sussex County Council’s cabinet member for residents’ services, said: “Our Trading Standards team have done a fantastic job acting on a consumer complaint.

“Not only were consumers misled by this dishonest act but so were the local businesses involved, who purchased the meat in good faith.

“This sentencing serves as a reminder to those that are involved in falsely advertising and selling produce that we will find out and we will make sure enforcement action is taken against you.”

Investigations are ongoing to ensure all businesses involved no longer sell falsely described meat.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

To report a case of suspected meat substitution contact Trading Standards via Citizens Advice on 03454 040506 or online at www.westsussex.gov.uk/tsreport

Don’t miss out on all the latest breaking news where you live.

Here are four ways you can be sure you’ll be amongst the first to know what’s going on.

1) Make our website your homepage

2) Like our Facebook page

3) Follow us on Twitter

4) Register with us by clicking on ‘sign in’ (top right corner). You can then receive our daily newsletter AND add your point of view to stories that you read here.

And do share with your family and friends - so they don’t miss out!

Always the first with your local news.

Be part of it.