Swansea Council's horse meat discovery brings mixed public reaction

THE revelation that horse meat has been found in minced beef supplied to Swansea Council has prompted a mixed reaction.

Some people have changed their eating habits, while others say they "are not bothered".

Tests showed minced beef supplied to Swansea and Carmarthenshire councils contained horse meat.

Both immediately remo- ved minced beef meals from its menus in schools, carehomes and civic centres.

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Neath Port Talbot Council did the same thing as a precaution.

It has caused concern for some residents in South West Wales.

"It's worrying, super- markets and suppliers should take more respons- ibilities in checking the items, the blame lies with them," said David Miles, 65, from Swansea.

And Elizabeth Davies, 79, also from Swansea, said: "I've lost my trust in meat products, the false advert- ising is a big problem. It has made me suspicious about other products."

However Lucian Urs, 25, from Swansea, was not as worried.

He said: "It doesn't really concern me, meat is meat, and I'm still buying it from the supermarkets."

Meanwhile Evening Post readers have also been debating the issue online.

Dan01 commented: "There is a bigger issue at stake here. Unless we know or care what is in our food, what is stopping cat and dog meat, or anything else, ending up in the food chain?

''Controls have been far too lax. I wouldn't mind trying horse meat, but when I do I'll want to know that that is what it is!"

And Antyall added: "There is nothing wrong with horse meat as long as it has been tested for drugs that can harm humans.

"Children have a lower tolerance to things like the tranquilisers used for horses.

I think that the important thing here is that horse meat is being sold as beef for beef prices which is about two- thirds cheaper than beef.

"So there is a profit being made at our expense again."

Swansea Council said it was part of the Welsh Purchasing Consortium of councils that had their minced beef supplied by an accredited company, Welsh Bros. It said the tests were undertaken independently by the council.

"Further tests are being carried out, but the council has taken immediate action to withdraw minced beef from all of its menus," said a spokesman for Swansea Council.

Neath Port Talbot Council said it was monitoring the situation.

And Carmarthenshire Council inquiries were continuing, but meat supplied after January 17 found to be unaffected.

A previous statement from Welsh Bros said: "The batch affected was produced nearly three months ago. Welsh Bros Foods did have a clear test result for frozen free flow minced beef on 17.01.13."