Environment, Food and Rural Affairs CommitteeFurther supplementary written evidence submitted by ABP Food Group

ABP has followed with interest the investigation of your Committee into horsemeat contamination, and we look forward to the publication of your final report into the matter, which I understand is due in July.

When you invited me to appear before your Committee, I took the opportunity to clearly explain how seriously ABP takes its responsibilities to industry stakeholders and. in particular to end consumers. In addition to my testimony, ABP provided two written submissions to your Committee, all of which demonstrate ABP’s willingness to work with you and to collaborate to ensure the integrity of the food supply chain.

It is very important to ABP that the beef industry can be trusted and that the industry’s reputation is preserved so that British consumers can have full confidence in the products they purchase. ABP works tirelessly with our customers to ensure that the highest standards are achieved.

In advance of the report being published I wanted to flag briefly our concern about recent media coverage (including Guardian 10 May 2013 “Horsemeat Scandal: fear the culprits will not face justice” http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2013/may/10/horsemeat-scandal-fear-culprits-justice?), alluding to concerns about the Irish beef industry and the commitment of authorities and companies in Ireland ensuring the highest standards are maintained.

Our particular concern is that your Committee may draw conclusions that the contamination of beef occurred in the UK or in Ireland. Such a conclusion runs contrary to all available facts and if made would have profound implications for the reputation of the industry. So, to avoid an erroneous report being published you might find the following helpful:

All beef originating in the UK and Ireland (both for ABP and other processors) has consistently tested negative for equine DNA.

The Food Safety Authority of Ireland was the first competent authority to identify equine contamination in beef and has moved decisively to demonstrate that Ireland is a “zero-tolerance” jurisdiction with regard to threats to the integrity of the food supply chain.

In the case of contamination at ABP’s Silvercrest facility, we believe that this occurred due to fraudulent activity by third party suppliers.

All contaminated product identified by ABP was from Continental sources (the majority from Poland).

Investigations into contaminated beef are continuing in several EU member states. ABP is doing everything it can to assist these investigations, which we believe will demonstrate that criminal activity outside the UK and Ireland was the reason contaminated beef entered the supply chain.

Suggestions that potential contamination at a Greencore plant came from ABP product has been demonstrated as false and Greencore has acknowledged ABP has no issue to answer in this regard.

Any contamination that did arise, caused by the criminal activity outside the UK and Ireland as referred to above, was confined to processed meat products. Such frozen processed product accounts for less than 5% of ABP’s business, and it is important that your Committee understands that portion of ABP’s business is the only one in the UK or Ireland where beef was sourced from outside our own UK and Irish supply chain. There has been no question of any contamination of ABP’s fresh beef supply chain.

ABP has rejected, and continues to reject any allegations or inference that it knowingly allowed horsemeat to enter its supply chain. ABP has both acknowledged and acted on failures of plant management at Silvercrest to purchase beef within specification. This failure led to the acquisition of contaminated beef (we believe from Poland) being used in the production of frozen burgers. It is important that you and your Committee understand that ABP was the unwitting victim of fraudulent activity, and any suggestions to the contrary are false, hurtful and damaging to a successful business providing thousands of jobs in the UK. and Ireland.

In addition, the Committee should be aware of the steps ABP has taken to ensure that an event like this can never happen again and how ABP continues to lead the way in guaranteeing supply chain integrity:

ABP has conducted over 15,000 tests across our product ranges to verify their integrity. ABP has also cooperated with rigorous reviews of our processes by both customers and the UK and Irish Authorities.

In addition, ABP has partnered with idendgen to introduce DNA testing swabbing regime for all carcasses we produce which will enable us to verify traceability from pack to carcass. We believe this testing to be the most advanced and sophisticated regime in Europe.

The senior management responsible for the Silvercrest plant no longer work for ABP, and as you are aware, ABP disposed of this facility in April.

ABP’s British and Irish plants are now only buying product originating in the UK and Ireland for burger production and ABP has ceased to purchase beef from 3rd party dealers.

We continue to prepare materials “for potential civil litigation” against parties who may have sold contaminated product to ABP.

While ABP’s part in these events was unwitting, we are determined to ensure that such events cannot recur.

We trust that the Committee will base its report on the established facts, and will take account of the reality that ABP—like many other leading UK and Irish beef processors or food manufacturers—has been the unwitting victim of fraudulent activity.

June 2013