May 28, 2013

Dutch meat processor arrested for food fraud

Dutch authorities arrested the director of a meat processing company for allegedly mixing horse meat with beef and re-labelling the product as beef. If convicted, he faces a maximum of six years in prison.

The processor is being reported as Selten's meat works, and local media are identifying the man arrested as Willy Selten. The Associated Press reported that an interim director was also arrested, and an administrative employee was suspected of fraud but had not been detained.

Authorities allege the company bought 300 tonnes of horsemeat from Netherlands, UK and Ireland and repackaged the meat as beef. Reuters reported that Selten admitted mixing horse meat with beef, but only at the request of a client.