Number of Samples of Meat in 2021 in Scotland Showed DNA Samples of Meat NOT listed on the Label
Request
Your request was about the following information:
‘Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 could I see the following information: I’m looking for how many samples of meat in 2021 in Scotland showed DNA samples of meat NOT listed on the label. (Any data you have for 2022 so far would also be gratefully received.)
Could I also get the examples of what kind of foodstuff was involved and whereabouts in Scotland it was found to be on sale.’
Response
From data reported between 01/01/2021 and 06/05/2022 one sample showed DNA of meat NOT listed on the label. It was a sample of a take-away lamb meal (Nayratan Lamb Tikka Makhani), collected from a premises in Edinburgh. The test showed presence of chicken DNA only.
Laboratory commented that ‘The sample was ordered on-line as a lamb Tikka Makhani. Visual examination suggested that the meat was poultry breast meat rather than lamb and this was confirmed by analysis of extracted DNA which was found to be of chicken origin only. It appears that the substitution was an error rather than a deliberate attempt to pass off chicken as lamb because the substitution was very obvious on cursory examination and would have been obvious to a customer.
