NI Conservatives’ agriculture spokesman, Paul Leeman, has emphasised that “eating local” is the best way to ensure shoppers get the best, most traceable red meat.
“The horsemeat scandal has been a damaging episode for the red meat industry”, Paul said. “However the best way for shoppers to ensure that they get the best product is to shop local, shop fresh and buy Northern Irish beef. Northern Ireland has a fantastic traceability system, which means that you know exactly what you’re getting. We also have world class farms and world class butchers.”
“As we look to learn lessons from the revelations of the past few weeks, we need to consider how the same traceability can be built into producing processed foods as exists for farmers. Shoppers deserve to know exactly where the meat has come from, particularly when it has been imported from abroad. Meanwhile, it’s a great time to support local farmers and local shops by buying the top class red meat which Northern Ireland has to offer.”