Westminster City Council inspectors have seized 300kg of ‘suspect meat’, including pork that could pose an African Swine Fever risk, in London’s China Town, according to the Standard.
The meat included vacuum-sealed chicken slices, marinated pork and sliced beef, and was uncovered by the inspectors during visits to two restaurants in Wardour Street and Lisle Street. The meat could not be traced back to a registered UK supplier, as required under UK regulations.
In a separate development, council officers acting on a tip off from the Food Standards Agency pounced on a business in Gerrard Street, confiscating 75 packets of flavoured dried noodles weighing over 18kg, the Standard added.
The move comes amid growing concerns about the uncontrolled flow of illegal meat imports into the UK, with much of it coming from countries under ASF restriction, as highlighted in a damning report in September by the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee.
Westminster officials said the move was essential to help prevent the spread of ASF. Aicha Less, Westminster City Council deputy leader and cabinet member for public protection, said: “Millions of people visit Westminster to eat out, and our job as a local authority is to ensure that diners enjoy food that is safe.
“That means knowing the origin of imported food – you cannot have mystery meat showing up in restaurant kitchens with no real idea of where it has come from. The meat we found was clearly intended for food businesses including Westminster restaurants.
“As well as a threat to humans, illegal food products are also a risk to livestock. Animal swine fever, even in prepackaged food products, can prove contagious and we need to stop any possibility of it spreading.
“Our environmental health teams will continue to ensure people visiting restaurants in the West End can have a safe and enjoyable experience.”