November 29, 2005

Germany to crack down on sale of spoiled meat

Germany's new agriculture minister on Monday pledged to crack down on companies that try to sell spoiled meat, following several cases in which inspectors found tonnes of inedible produce.

Minister Horst Seehofer said possible measures include higher fines, and welcomed decisions by some state governments to shut down suspect firms.

Authorities "must do everything to ensure these black sheep have no chance," he said.

A series of cases that surfaced over recent weeks has led to pressure for politicians to act.

On Monday, the premises of a wholesaler on Lake Constance, in southern Germany, were sealed after authorities found 2.5 tonnes of re-labelled meat, some of it spoiled. In Bonn, inspectors found 2 tonnes of meat products with a sell-by date in 2003.