Horse Meat Scandal – A Wake-Up Call For Regulatory Authorities
In this piece, the author discusses the role that regulatory authorities can play in tackling scandals around meat authenticity, as recently observed with the horse meat debacle. The author calls for continuous monitoring starting in slaughterhouses and improved detection using scientific techniques to help uncover mislabeled meat.
[Abstract excerpted from original source.]
“Global incidences of food mis-description and adulteration are increasing and international food trade is disrupted by frequent disputes over food safety and quality requirements. This report attempts to present authenticity concerns and discusses the role of regulatory authorities to circumvent the issues relating to meat authenticity. Science based technological solutions to combat fraud or accidental mislabeling are discussed. Allowances for adventitious presence and religious concerns are addressed. In conclusion collective action by continuous monitoring scheme along with improved detection methodologies and stringent regulation on defaulters will certainly minimize or even eliminate authentication problems in future.”