UK breaches of SRM controls

In all cases the carcases were detained and the SRM removed and destroyed. An investigation into the circumstances of the failure to detect the SRM before health marking was also launched in each case.

	Date	Originating plant	Nature of find
1	29/09/2000	Licensed slaughterhouse in Northern Ireland	A piece of spinal cord found in a beef carcase when inspected at receiving cutting plant
2	12/12/2000	Janan Meats, Kings Winsford, West Midlands (Plant no 4182)	Piece of spinal cord found in the neck of a split sheep carcase during SVS audit
3	18/12/2000	Sturminster Newton Abattoirs Ltd. (Plant no. 8207)	Split sheep carcase with complete spinal cord present, discovered during SVS audit
4	04/06/2001	A C Hopkins, nr Taunton (Plant no. 8184)	Piece of spinal cord found in a ewe carcase on inspection at cutting premises.
5	06/07/2001	Keepak Uk Ltd, Preston. (Plant no. 4071)	Pieces of spinal cord found in two sheep carcases on inspection at receiving cutting plant
6	12/04/2002	A & G Barbers, Chelmsford (Plant no. 5088)	Spinal cord found in a quarter of beef during an MHS inspection by the MHS of meat being unloaded at G.M. Mathews (Butchers) Ltd. Bexhill, E. Sussex
7	05/02/2003	A C Hopkins, nr Taunton (Plant no. 8184)	Spinal cord found in two split ewe carcases at London Central Markets (Smithfield) by OVS.
9	17/02/2003	Coast and County Meat Supply Co. Ltd, Gateshead. (Plant no. 2159)	Spinal cord found in a split sheep carcase at London Central Markets (Smithfield).
10	23/03/2003	Fairfield Meat Co, Wrexham (Plant no. 7132)	Spinal cord cord found in a split sheep carcase at London Central Markets (Smithfield)
11	02/04/2003	Kepak UK Ltd , Wakefield ( Plant no. 2158)	Spinal cord found in two sides of same sheep carcase when inspected at Peter O'Sullivan Meats (Plant no 5222)
12	01/08/2003	Ensors Abattoir, Cinderford (Plant no. 8035)	Vertebral Column SRM was not removed under MHS supervision from four cattle over 12 months of age imported live from the Netherlands. Cattle from non exempt countries must have vertebral column SRM removed. The carcases were subsequently deboned before release into the food chain.
13	20/01/2004	J.V Richards (Rietfontein ) Ltd Truro (8303)	Spinal cord found in a split sheep carcase at London Central Markets (Smithfield).
14	11/08/04	Wick Slaughterhouse, Wick , Scotland (1153)	Thymus SRM found on 7 bovine carcases during MHS audit and 4 more on investigation, one containing spinal cord. The SRM was removed under MHS supervision before the carcases were released into the food chain. I carcase from an animal slaughtered at the same time entered the food chain. Although this potentially had thymus attached there is no evidence to confirm this.
15	29/11/04	Cheshire Halal (UK) ltd. Stockport (Plant No.4277)	A piece of spinal cord was found in a bovine quarter carcase at the receiving cutting plant, M.Najib and Sons, Derby (plant no. 4649) during an MHS inspection. The carcase containing the SRM was removed from the food chain. This was part of a consignment of 32 quarter carcase of fresh beef, no other SRM was detected .
16	18/04/2005	WD Meats Ltd, Coleraine Co Londonderry Plant No UK 9056 EEC	A bovine aged over 12 months, imported live from the Republic of Ireland, was slaughtered on 8 April 2005. When despatched from the abattoir on 18 April 2005, the carcase still had SRM vertebral column present.
17	23/11/05	Fairfield Meat Co Wrexham (Plant No 7132)	Two unsplit ewe carcases, one confirmed, one suspected as coming from animals aged over 12 months, discovered on inspection at the receiving premises.
18	5/4/06	Pickstock (Ashby) Ltd Swadlincote (Plant No 4786)	Spinal cord found in a quarter of beef at the receiving plant.
19	16/5/06	ABP Shrewsbury Ltd(Plant No 4109)	Spinal cord found in a forequarter of beef at the receiving plant
20	17/7/06	Northern Counties Meat Group Ltd (Plant No 2055)	SRM vertebral column from bovines aged 24 to 30 months not segregated, stained and disposed of as Category 1 animal by-product as required by law.
21	05/10/06	F Drury & Sons (Plant No 8201)	Spinal cord found in a quarter of beef at the receiving plant.
22	19/12/06	F Drury & Sons (Plant No 8201)	Spinal cord found in two quarters of beef at the receiving plant.
23	20/7/07	Sandyford Abattoir (Plant No. 1535)	Spinal cord found in neck of over thirty month bovine carcase.