Environmental health officers have seized unsafe meat being transported through Lichfield during a special road traffic operation.
They joined Staffordshire Police’s road crime team, Staffordshire County Council trading standards, and the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency in seeking to disrupt the import and movement of illegal and unsafe foods into and across the UK.
On Tuesday, 8 October, vans were stopped and searched, and the meat seized included chicken and lamb kebabs and chicken wings that were destined for retailers.
The food was seized because it was being delivered in an unrefrigerated van and had defrosted, or because labels and paperwork were missing meaning the environmental health officers were unable to trace its origin.
Lichfield District Council Cabinet Member, Councillor Alex Farrell, said:
“This important operation has seen our environmental health officers team up with partner agencies to seize unsafe meat.
“Keeping residents safe is vital and I’m delighted that this food, which was not fit for consumption, has been kept from their plates.”