Horsemeat DNA

The request was successful.

Dear Birmingham City Council,

Could you tell me who has provided the meat for schools in Birmingham?

Have you done DNA tests on:
1, All meat used in all schools
2, All Halal meat used in schools?
3, All Kosher meat used in schools
4. Have you tested for horse and pig DNA?

Have you found any horse or pig DNA in meat provided to schools?

If you have done nothing for our food safety, why not? And when will you be doing thorough testing?

How can we be sure you are not buying cheapest meat for schools, and how can we be sure the meat is what you say?
What are you going to do to make sure our childrens' meat is not polluted?

Has the pig polluted halal meat been used in Birmingham?

Yours faithfully,

Rajan Mohammed

Tracey Robinson, Birmingham City Council

Dear Rajan

 

Thank you for your request for information held by the Council under the
provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 which was received on
25/02/2013.

 

We will contact you again once it has been ascertained what data is held
by Birmingham City Council.  In some circumstances a fee may be payable
and if that is the case, we will let you know.  A fees notice will be
issued to you, and you will be required to pay before we will proceed with
your request.

 

If you require any further information or are not happy with our response
please do not hesitate to contact me quoting the reference number above in
any future communications.  Steve Cullen should also be copied in on any
correspondence relating to this request.

 

Yours sincerely

Tracey Robinson

Business Continuity and Information Governance Officer

 

 

Sent on behalf of:

Steve Cullen

Information Governance Manager

Governance and Policy

Children, Young People and Families Directorate

Birmingham City Council

 

Tel: 0121 464 4591

Email: [email address]

 

Data Protection Act 1998

The information you have provided within your Freedom of Information
request will be held on our database and may also be held within manual
records for a period of 2 years from the date Birmingham City Council
received your request. Any personal data that you provide to Birmingham
City Council will be held in line with the requirements set out within the
Data Protection Act 1998.

 

Re Use of Public Sector Information

Where Birmingham City Council is the copyright holder of any information
that may be released, re-use for personal, educational or non-commercial
purposes is permitted without further reference to the City Council. Where
the re-use is for other purposes, such as commercial re-use, the applicant
should notify the City Council in writing to seek approval or agree terms
for re-use.

 

show quoted sections

Tracey Robinson, Birmingham City Council

Dear Rajan

 

I am writing in respect of your recent enquiry for information held by the
Authority under the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 2000:

Could you tell me who has provided the meat for schools in Birmingham?

    

     Have you done DNA tests on:

     1, All meat used in all schools

     2, All Halal meat used in schools?

     3, All Kosher meat used in schools

     4. Have you tested for horse and pig DNA?

    

     Have you found any horse or pig DNA in meat provided to schools?

    

     If you have done nothing for our food safety, why not? And when

     will you be doing thorough testing?

    

     How can we be sure you are not buying cheapest meat for schools,

     and how can we be sure the meat is what you say?

     What are you going to do to make sure our children's' meat is

     not polluted?

    

     Has the pig polluted halal meat been used in Birmingham?

 

Please find herewith the following:

 

Could you tell me who has provided the meat for schools in Birmingham?

A.   Meat for those schools where Direct Services (BCC's in-house caterer)
is the school meals provider is supplied by 'Spice Time' (also known as
'The Balti Company') - for Halal meat; 'Brake Brothers' and 'Midland
Foods' for other types.   
     

Have you done DNA tests on:
   

1, All meat used in all schools

A. Environmental Services have taken samples of all dishes containing
processed beef served by Direct Services in Birmingham to test for horse
and pig DNA.
   

2, All Halal meat used in schools?

A. See Q1.

3, All Kosher meat used in schools

A. No Kosher meat is served in Birmingham by Direct Services.

 

4. Have you tested for horse and pig DNA?

A. See Q1.

Have you found any horse or pig DNA in meat provided to schools?

A. At this time no horse or pig DNA has been found in any of our products.

If you have done nothing for our food safety, why not? And when will you
be doing thorough testing?

A. Direct Services completes systematic checks on suppliers before and
after contracts are awarded and follow procedures for careful storage,
preparation and service of food in schools. The use of processed meat is
kept to a minimum as meals are mostly cooked freshly on site from scratch
using trusted ingredients.

   
     How can we be sure you are not buying cheapest meat for schools, and
how can we be sure the meat is what you say?

A. Suppliers have to meet strict criteria before they are even allowed to
tender for contracts to supply food to schools. These criteria are based
on quality and the ability to supply food consistently to the correct
specification. Checks and inspections are carried out throughout the
period of the contracts.
     
     What are you going to do to make sure our children's' meat is not
polluted?

A. Further tests will be completed as required, in conjunction with the
city’s environmental services, and the city’s strict policies on food
safety will continue to be followed.

          Has the pig polluted halal meat been used in Birmingham?

A. There is absolutely no evidence to suggest that pig polluted halal meat
has been used by Direct Services in Birmingham.

 

If you have any information which may assist us in determining or locating
any missed information, we would be grateful if you would contact us with
details of this information, so that we can conduct a further search.

 

If you are not satisfied with the response you may ask for an internal
review.  If subsequently you are not satisfied with the Council's decision
you may apply to the Information Commissioner for a decision.  Generally,
the ICO cannot make a decision unless you have exhausted the complaints
procedure provided by the Council.  The Information Commissioner can be
contacted at the following address:

 

The Information Commissioner

Wycliffe House

Water Lane

Wilmslow

Cheshire

SK9 5AF

 

Telephone: 01625 545745           Web Address: [1]www.ico.gov.uk

 

Yours sincerely,

Tracey Robinson

Business Continuity and Information Governance Officer

 

 

Sent of behalf of:

Steve Cullen

Information governance Manager

Governance and Policy Team

Children Young People and Families Directorate

Birmingham City Council

 

Tel: 0121 464 4591

Email: [2][email address]

 

show quoted sections

References

Visible links
1. http://www.ico.gov.uk/
2. mailto:[email address]