Fake British beef found on UK supermarket’s shelves as investigation underway

An investigation is underway after beef falsely labelled as British was found being sold in a high-end supermarket.

An investigation into food fraud is now underway but the supermarket itself is not under investigation. Booths — which has 27 store locations across the North West — was found to have the falsely labelled deli stock on its shelves.

The upmarket store, with units in Hale Barns, Knutsford and Ormskirk, had stocked the products labelled as British-sourced, which had actually been imported from South America and Europe. While the company itself is not being investigated, the National Food Crime Unit (NFCU) is looking into how the products ended up on its shelves and is probing one of its suppliers, the BBC reports.

The products in question — pre-packed sliced meats and deli products — were removed from stock as soon as Booths was made aware, they said. The company was made aware of the food products in 2021 and said they have since ceased trading with the supplier – whose name the NFCU has not disclosed.

The supermarket prides itself on only selling 100% British beef. The latest revelation comes 10 years after the horse meat scandal in 2013, in which some burgers and ready meals were found to contain 100% horse meat.

Booths also said it held issues of products’ origins, traceability, honesty, and authenticity to the highest level of importance, and they’ve been fully cooperating with the NFCU over the past 18 months.

The deputy chief of the NFCU, Andrew Quinn, said on Thursday that it was not a food safety issue but a matter of food fraud, which it takes very seriously. “Any fraud investigations of this nature take time to go through evidence and bring to any outcome, including any potential prosecution,” Mr Quinn said. “We take food fraud very seriously and are acting urgently to protect the consumer.”

A spokesperson for Booths confirmed to The Mirror the company were ‘working closely and cooperatively’ with the NFCU since being made aware of potential food fraud issues in 2021. They said: “Booths are categorically NOT under investigation by the NFCU.

“It is also important to note the whilst the NFCU investigation relates to a potential serious food fraud incident, this is not a food safety issue.”

The spokesperson added: “It is important that the NFCU is able to complete its investigations in an objective and impartial manner.

“The NFCU continue to have the full support of Booths and to that effect, Booths will make no further comment at this stage, any further enquiries relating to this matter should be directed to the NFCU.”