Horse meat: Notts butchers report increase in business

NOTTS butchers have reported an increase in business in the wake of the national horse meat scandal.

Butcher's shop have seen more customers, as people turn their back on processed or imported meals.

They include AE Chambers, in Front Street, Arnold, where owner Philip Chambers said: "We have definitely seen some extra footfall over the weekend. People know if they come into us or another local butcher's shop that they can be trusted and receive personal service.

"All of our beef is traceable from Notts and Scotland. We're 100 per cent sure that it's all properly sourced, and not come from a continental or imported supplier. I think all butchers can put their hands up and say the same."

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Mr Chambers, 59, started as a butcher aged 17. His company also runs a factory in Top Valley which supplies meat to wholesale customers, including catering outlets in Notts and the East Midlands.

Of the horse meat issue, Mr Chambers said: "I'm sure it's cost driven, as horse meat is a cheaper source."

Marsden's Butchers in The Meadows, has also reported a 10 per cent increase in visitors in the last couple of days. Owner Andy Marsden, 51, said: "We've had a few new faces come in and take an interest, asking where our meat is sourced from."

Mr Marsden, a butcher since he was 16, sources his beef and lamb from near Swadlincote and his pork from a farmer in Burton-on-Trent.

His chicken also comes from suppliers in England.

Mr Marsden said: "People for too long have been used to cheap meat in this country. One of the reasons for it being cheap is it's poorer quality or not as good as what we sell in the butcher's shop.

"When you are able to buy a beef lasagne to feed two or four people for around £1, you have to ask how they can do it for that price."

The Q Guild, representing 130 butchers in England, Scotland and Wales, said some members had seen trade increase by 30 per cent.

The change in shopping habits comes after frozen food firm Findus revealed that beef lasagnes made by French company Comigel contained up to 100 per cent horse meat.

Irish food inspectors also said last month they had found horse meat in some burgers stocked by UK supermarket chains including Tesco, Iceland and Lidl.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs says there was no evidence that eating horse meat was a risk to human health.

The Food Standards Agency has asked 28 local authorities to carry out checks on their food. Neither Nottingham City nor Notts County Councils has been asked, but the city council is carrying out its own checks. Both councils provide food for schools, day centres and residential homes.

Have you been affected? E-mail newsdesk@nottinghampostgroup.co.uk