News

Since news of the first case broke on 16th January 2013 Brakes have been working actively on the issue of meat adulteration.
Brakes can confirm that we have now completed the first phase of testing for Brakes brand products containing beef and have submitted our second list of results to the Food Standards Agency (FSA). We will continue to be vigilant and will closely follow any future FSA guidelines on speciation testing.

Our submission to the FSA has so far included 259 negative results for equine DNA.  Our testing programme has been comprehensive, going beyond the FSA recommendations of testing processed comminuted beef products:

• Tests so far have represented all types of Brakes brand beef containing products, including
  comminuted and whole muscle beef.
• We have reconfirmed the source, traceability and processing of the beef we
  buy from our suppliers.

Our testing programme represents a significant proportion of all results the FSA has obtained from across the food industry.  The scale of our testing represents the level of commitment we have to product integrity and our intention to give total reassurance to our customers.
Our tests also confirmed one positive equine DNA finding (at between 1 and 10%) on a Brakes spicy minced beef skewer (code F34430 impacting a handful of customers) and one positive test reported by a customer of our subsidiary division Creative Foods, on a lasagne manufactured exclusively for them. Brakes have also segregated a frozen burger (Code F3535) as a precaution (whilst we verify the test) after equine DNA at 1% was reported to the Food Standards Agency.
Brakes and Creative Foods are very disappointed to have been let down by our respective suppliers and have sincerely apologised to our customers. As any responsible company, we have a duty of care to all our customers and the consumers they serve to guarantee the integrity of the products we purchase. 
Should any positive test result be confirmed on any Brakes or supplier brand product we purchase, customers who have received this product will be contacted and the product recalled or blocked from sale.
Where any doubt is raised by other parties on the integrity of any Brakes or supplier brand product, as a precautionary measure, we will block those products from sale and ask our customers to hold product until investigations are complete.
To reassure customers on our product integrity going forward we will be introducing the following measures:

• A continued second phase of testing as part of a comprehensive surveillance programme,
   specifically on further processed beef products such as bouillons and stocks.
• A standard protocol of DNA testing on batches or raw material and finished beef products.
• Negative equine meat confirmation before product enters our supply chain, wherever possible.
• A revaluation of our supply chain practices and supply chain partners to simplify and streamline
  traceability even further.

Brakes will continue to work tirelessly with and alongside the industry on investigating and resolving this issue.  We are determined to do everything within our control to protect our customers from this issue in the future.