Police raid Loscoe, supplier embroiled in beef fraud scandal
A police van at Loscoe Chilled Foods' plant © Picture supplied This morning (22 March), police raided Loscoe Chilled Foods in Derbyshire, the supplier at the heart of the beef fraud scandal revealed by Farmers Weekly.
The business was under investigation by the National Food Crime Unit (NFCU), part of the Food Standards Agency (FSA), for selling cooked foreign beef and deli products as British to upmarket northern retailer Booths.
See also: Booths named as retailer embroiled in food fraud scandal
On Monday morning (20 March), the company laid off its staff, pending the possible reinstatement of its assurance.
Director Daniel Ryde did not respond to a request for comment on the status of the business on 20 March.
The assurance, provided by a certifying body for Brand Reputation through Compliance (BRGCS), had been suspended following inquiries from Farmers Weekly.
Darren Davies, head of the NFCU, said: “Working with Derbyshire Constabulary and Derbyshire County Council Trading Standards, the FSA’s NFCU has today visited a premises linked to a criminal investigation into alleged food fraud.
“The live investigation involves meat misrepresented as being British. We take food fraud very seriously and are acting urgently to protect the consumer.”