A Perthshire chicken processing factory has been given a clean bill of health following a visit by food hygiene inspectors, The Courier can reveal.
The 2 Sisters Food Group plants in both Coupar Angus and Letham, Angus, were visited by members of the Food Standards Agency (FSA) in Scotland and underwent safety audits.
It has been confirmed that the east Perthshire plant was visited on May 27, with the Angus site examined on June 25.
The FSA in Scotland has been quick to point out that the safety audits were not the result of a five-month probe carried out by The Guardian newspaper, which uncovered a series of alleged hygiene breaches at 2 Sisters Food group plants and also sites owned by Faccenda.
Undercover reporters said they had found a factory floor flooded with the guts of chickens, and carcases coming into contact with workers’ boots and then being returned to the production line. Both companies deny the allegations.
A spokesperson for the FSA in Scotland confirmed that the Coupar Angus plant had been visited by inspectors in May and will be seen again in October.
“With regards to the Two Sisters plant in Coupar Angus, Scotland, our most recent audit showed that it was broadly compliant with the regulations and we are satisfied that there is no risk to public health and enforcement action has been proportionate and appropriate,” she commented.
“The audits were not carried out as a result of The Guardian newspaper article. Both the Coupar Angus and the Letham plants are audited routinely as part of the normal audit cycle by the Food Standards Agency in Scotland at a frequency informed by compliance.
“The last audits took place at the Coupar Angus plant on May 27 and at the Letham plant on June 25. The next audits are due in October 2014 for Coupar Angus and September 2014 for Letham.”
She added: “The food business operator is responsible for the hygienic production in their premises and both Coupar Angus and Letham premises have daily, full-time, permanent FSA official veterinarian presence to ensure there is food business operator compliance with legal requirements.”
The spokesperson said that The Guardian investigation of the England and Wales plants highlighted “broader concerns” about practices at those plants, including chickens which fall on to the floor being put back on production lines.
“Given these allegations, the FSA is conducting audits and investigations at the plants in Scunthorpe and Llangefni in Wales,” she added.
“These are under way and findings will be published in due course.
“We have been reiterating our advice to consumers that campylobacter can occur on chickens even when the highest standards of farming and processing are followed. Consumers should follow good hygiene practice at home, including not washing raw chicken, to minimise the risk.
“We continue to work with the industry to ensure that steps are taken to reduce the levels of campylobacter on chicken sold or served in the UK.”
The Courier can confirm that no prosecution was taken against the plant in Coupar Angus.
The Guardian’s allegations highlighted the possibility of campylobacter the most commonly identified cause of food poisoning in the UK being found at the in the processing plants looked at in England and Wales.