Does your chicken contain cows and pigs?

David Quainton, 04 June 2009

Caterers are being warned to step up examination of their poultry suppliers after the Food Standards Agency (FSA) said there could be traces of beef and pork, as well as other substances, in chicken.

The news should alert anyone catering to an audience with religious dietary requirements, and those who specifically only eat white meat.

According to an FSA report, different products are available with varying levels of chicken content.

The lower chicken contents are "obtained by introducing water, and a mixture of ingredients [in powder form] to retain this added water," the report continues.

It then goes on to say that "the claim that the powders derive only from poultry protein could not be substantiated by the analytical techniques applied in this study".

The study follows ones conducted in 2002 and 2003 that said "tumbled chicken could contain water-retaining hydrolysed proteins derived from pork and beef".

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Deborah Rodwell - 08 June 2009

This latest food news fills me with horror! I am not a caterer so it really doesn't apply to me above and beyond my own catering arrangements. I am not vegetarian but do have animal welfare concerns therefore always ask a butcher where their meat comes from. We attended an event earlier this year where the food was to die for \(take a bow, Sternberg Clarke). I cheekily asked the head chef where his meat \(lamb) was from and he named the farm immediately. Now that was impressive! Truly an example for all catering firms to follow.