Four men and business were convicted in the UK after diverting meat that was not suitable for human consumption into the food chain.
Three men pleaded guilty, and one man and his business entered an innocent plea at Crown Court in London following an investigation by the Southwork Council and the Food Standards Agency (FSA) National Food Crime Unit (NFCU). The investigation was called Operation Bantam and began in 2020.
Mark Hooper, Azar Ilshad and Ali Afzal have pleas guilty to their involvement in food crimes. The fourth defendant, Anthony Fear, director of the Fear Animal Byproducts, entered an innocent plea for himself and for his business and chose to endure the trial.
The trial lasted over 11 weeks. In March, the ju apprenticed the crime of terror and conspiracy in his business by placing ineligible food on the market. The next hearing will take place at the end of April, with a judgment that will continue at a later date.
A complex investigation
Hooper, a manager who fears Animal’s by-product, has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to fraud by placing food that is not worthy of the market.
Irshad pleaded guilty to conspiracy to fraud, to fail to comply with food safety and hygiene regulations related to an unauthorized facility, and to place inappropriate food in the market.
Afzal pleaded guilty to failing to comply with regulations relating to unauthorized facilities.
“These five convictions have been secured after extensive investigations led by the NFCU and required a thorough investigation of a large volume of evidence. In time, the verdict reflects the serious nature of this violation and is expected to act as a deterrent for other bad actors in the food chain.”
The court heard evidence of a complex investigation that Southwork officials found 1.9 tonnes of Category 3 animal byproducts, including chicken, smoky, lamb test circles and whole beef burgers at an illegal meat cutting plant in London, and was processed to sell to the human food supply chain.
Between June and September 2020, the group was categorized as poultry and meat as a human food chain. For food safety reasons, once meat is classified as an animal byproduct, it cannot be reverted to the human food chain.
The investigation began in March 2020 after the Southwork Council’s food safety team received a report from the NFCU on suspicious illegal food activities. The officers ultimately gained access in September 2020. This has identified an entry point for a suspicious unit.
Officers discovered obscure doors in stacked boxes and were led to cutting shops that were found to actively cut, skin, wash and interact with raw poultry for sale and distribution. The facility was filthy, no hot water and was reasonably sanitary. It has also been established that the site is not registered for food preparation.
Pet Food Products
NFCU enquiries tracked animal by-products to legitimate food businesses. The legitimate food business said meat products were sent to pet food for fear of Somerset animal by-products for production or disposal.
The lamb skin and beef burger labels were traced to a company called Keepak while the chicken label was traced to two sister food groups. Both companies confirmed that meat or poultry is classified as a Category 3 animal byproduct.
The evidence was then stitched together, following an analysis of a large amount of communication data and other information demonstrating the relationship between the four men of the accused.
Trade standards officers in Devon, Plymouth, Somerset and Torbay seized evidence showing the fear that animal products were contracted by Kepac and two sister food groups to collect animal by-products and transport them to pet food producer Saria.
“These violations underline the blatant disregard for the Food Safety Act, which protects public health — all for the benefit. Consumers who unconsciously purchase and consume these products are subject to potential health hazards. We will not tolerate such reckless and deceived behavior.
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