Two jailed in meat diversion case
Two men were imprisoned and two others received suspended prison sentences in England for having diverted unfit meat in the food chain.
The defendants were sentenced earlier this year following an investigation by Southwark Council and the National Food Crime Unit (NFCU) of the Food Standards Agency (FSA).
Anthony Fear, director of animal fears Products, was sentenced to 42 months in prison for conspiracy to fraud by placing foods that are not suitable for human consumption on the market. The 64 -year -old man was disqualified to be director of the company for six years by the judge of Inner London Crown Court.
Mark Hooper, director of Animal Products Fears, was sentenced to 24 months, suspended for two years and was sentenced to 200 hours of unpaid work.
Azar Irshad was sentenced to 35 months in prison for conspiracy to fraud, not to comply with the part of the regulations on food safety and hygiene relating to unprecedented premises, to place smoke on the market, to sell beef hamburgers and to place food that is not suitable for human consumption on the market. The 40 -year -old was also prohibited to participate in the food industry for an indefinite period.
Ali Afzal was sentenced to six months, suspended for 21 months, 150 hours unpaid and ordered to pay fees of £ 5,000 ($ 6,700), so as not to comply with unprepared premises regulations.
Products of animal origin will be sentenced in 2026 following the conclusion of the confiscation procedure. Other costs will be determined after these procedures.
Meat sold to take -out dishes; Sometimes like Halal
“The case demonstrates the serious risk posed to consumer safety when individuals deliberately ignore the regulations on food security by putting the improper meat for human consumption in the food chain. We remain involved in our identifying work, investigating and continuing those who seek to exploit our food system for financial gain at the expense of public security, “said Andrew Quinn, head of the NFCU.
The investigation was called Operation Bantam. It started in 2020 when the Southwark Council officers discovered 1.9 tonnes of category 3 animal by-products, including whole and cut chickens, lamb testicles and beef hamburgers, transformed for the human food chain in an illegal meat cut factory in London between June and September 2020. that the meat had been prepared in malgène conditions.
Animal by-products have been traced to legitimate companies that said it was sent to Crears Animal Products to Somerset to make pet food or to eliminate safely. Once meat is classified as an animal by-product, it is excluded from the human food chain for security reasons.
The evidence has shown that Irshad has made 16 London trips to Crain The Products of Animal Origin in Bridgewater to collect animal by-products. On each occasion, in the region of 1 ton of poultry or meat was loaded on its van. He was then portioned and sold to fast food outlets. A part was sold as halal meat.
The labels on lamb testicles and beef burgers came from a company called Keepak while the chicken came from the 2 -sisters food group. Animal products have been contracted by Kepak and 2 Sisters Food Group to collect animal by-products and transport them to Saria, pet producer. Fearing that animal products had a contract with Sarval, a subsidiary of Saria.
Hooper, Irshad and Afzal pleaded guilty during the hearings in January 2025. Anthony Fear pleaded not guilty and was tried, which ended in March with verdicts guilty for him and his business, fears animal products.
The advisor Natasha Ennin said: “This conviction marks the end of a long and determined investigation to keep food criminals to account. These people operated with total contempt for public health, motivated only by greed. The sentences transmitted send a clear message: food crime will not be tolerated.”
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