Tesco ends business with supplier Silvercrest over burgers

Tesco thinks the firm Silvercrest has broken their agreement concerning frozen beef burgers

16:03 30 January 2013

Supermarket giant Tesco has dropped one of their suppliers, Silvercrest, because they believe there was a ‘breach of trust’. The firm helped to provide the retailer with frozen beef burgers, and Tesco claims that some of the meat used - which was found to be contaminated - did not come from an agreed source.

 

This comes after horse DNA was found in meat used in burgers, and the supermarket are claiming their meat should come from ‘approved suppliers’.

 

It is for this reason that Tesco think Silvercrest have broken their agreement, because when it comes to their frozen burgers, they say meat should be sourced from the UK (or Ireland).

 

The situation concerning contaminated meat has led to the retail giants wanting to carry out DNA tests on their meat products.

 

Tesco’s group technical director Tim Smith commented on this: “These checks will set a new standard. It will be a significant investment for Tesco, borne by Tesco.

 

Mr. Smith added: “We want to leave customers in no doubt that we will do whatever it takes to ensure the quality of their food and that the food they buy is exactly what the label says it is.”

 

Tesco weren’t the only supermarket to have been affected by the horse meat scare, with horse and pig DNA being found in meat in supermarkets such as Iceland, Aldi, and Lidl also.

 

The supermarkets involved have apologised over the contamination issue, which became apparent after the Food Safety Authority from Ireland (FSAI) carried out tests.

 

Silvercrest, who are part of the ABP Food Group, have not made a comment as of time of press.