UK urged to set up specialist food crime unit after horse meat scandal

The UK should set up a specialist food crime unit in the UK, following on from the horsemeat scandal.

That's a recommendation from a government-commissioned review by Professor Chris Elliott, director of the Institute for Global Food Security at Queen's University Belfast.

Professor Elliott said the food industry should not relax efforts to provide safe food, "but must also consider the prevention of food crime a primary objective", according to the BBC.

His comments came after he was asked to find ways of improving the safety of UK food supply networks, following the scandal that erupted in January this year when horse DNA was found in a number of beef products..

"Food production is a global industry and we need to ensure that our high standards are maintained across the whole supply chain.

"The horsemeat crisis clearly showed criminal activity in the global food chain and while the next stage of my review will gather more evidence on this, it is right that measures are in place to further protect consumers. The food industry and the government are already striving to achieve this," said Professor Elliott.

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