Industry is urged to support UKfarmers
Delegates at the 19th Caterer & Hotelkeeper Chef Conference were urged not to desert Britain's farmers, at a time when many hundreds of them are facing financial ruin because of the foot-and-mouth crisis.
During a "Question Time" session on the morning of the conference, Brian Turner, chairman of the Academy of Culinary Arts and chef-proprietor of Turner's restaurant, London, said: "British farmers have worked so hard in the past five years - in spite of great adversity brought on by BSE - to make British meat the best in the world. Once this problem is sorted out, it is incumbent upon all of us to buy home-reared beef, lamb and pork."
Speaking from the audience, Linda Carter, trade sector manager of British Meat, said the foot-and-mouth crisis needed to be put into perspective. "Out of nearly 60 million cattle, lamb and pigs in the UK, the disease has so far affected only a small part of the industry. It is still very bad and sad, but the situation for farmers would be even worse if we decided to vaccinate the animals. By doing so, Britain would lose its disease-free status and we would all suffer the consequences for many years to come."
More than half a million animals have been culled or are earmarked for slaughter.
Other delegates voiced their concern at the "crap" being fed to farm animals and suggested this was causing anxiety to the public, who had begun to turn away from eating meat.
Peter Hazzard, executive director, food service, at Sodexho, said his company rigorously checked the source of the meat it bought to ensure the animals were being fed properly. "It is very easy to castigate all farmers in this when in fact a lot of them are feeding their animals properly and are now being devastated by this through no fault of their own."
John Gray, foodservice trade manager for British Meat, responded later in the day by saying: "I am very proud of our product. British livestock are not fed ‘crap' and if you've got any doubts, get off your arses and go and take a look."
Hazzard suggested the catering industry should set up a fund to support the farmers.
Turner and Hazzard were joined by fellow panellists Charlie Trotter, Stuart Rhodes and Nick Brookwell, company executive chef, Baxter & Platts. The session was chaired by broadcaster Michael van Straten.
