The chief executive of Tesco pledged today to bring meat production “closer to home” and forge stronger links with British farmers in the wake of the horse meat scandal.
Philip Clarke said that from July, all fresh chicken sold by Tesco would come from UK producers. But he could not say when this pledge would be extended to other meats, and did not rule out price rises.
Tesco and the other big supermarkets have been accused of not responding quickly or effectively enough to the horse meat crisis. Farmers have complained that major retailers underpay them while raising costs to the consumer in order to maximise profits.
Mr Clarke said his company was bringing in a new testing scheme to improve safety and labelling of meat: “The testing regime is intended to ensure that if it is not on the label, it is not in the packet — if it’s beef it’s beef and nothing else.
"That’s the most comprehensive testing regime I’ve ever seen and it’s happening now. The second thing ... is bring meat production closer to home. We do buy some, particularly for frozen products, out of Europe, and as we can we’ll bring it closer to home.”
Mr Clarke, who will speak today at the National Farmers Union conference, also said the supermarket would work more closely with producers.
Andrew Simms, a fellow of the New Economics Foundation and author of Tescopoly, a study of the firm, said: “If they are making a major commitment to supplying from UK producers that’s a good thing. My concern would be that they don’t put undue pressure on producers down the supply chain to keep costs down, which is how corners were cut and this whole issue started.”
Last month Tesco removed from sale Everyday Value burgers containing 29 per cent equine DNA, then ditched supplier Silvercrest. On February 6, frozen spaghetti and lasagne meals supplied by Comigel were removed. Some frozen Everyday Value spaghetti bolognese meals from Comigel contained horse meat “exceeding 60 per cent”.
