Engineering Management - Horse Meat - Case Study Example

rsе Меаt Name: Course: Lecturer: Institution: Date: Horsemeat Executive summary The scandal on horsemeat in Sweden had hit the news rooms with the widening Europe’s frozen meat meatballs labeled with the pork and beef labels. The evident was detected in a number of countries across the continent. In Czech, state the administration in the veterinary department found one-kilogram packs, which had been packed with the horse meatballs. Other countries which had the same issue, to mention some, Slovakia, France, Britain, Spain, and other countries which totaled to about 13 countries across borders. However, the horsemeat found in some of the packs was not labeled with the right label, the authorities in Europe claim that this cannot be of any health risk. The Swedish authorities did take the issue lightly, claiming that if the Czech authorities did find 1% of the meat, then they handled it at their site and if more than, they had to confirm from their area. To add on the scandal issue Czech did report that I had found horsemeat on the burger imports from Poland. These countries did use the standardized DNA test to check the horsemeat content from all the imports from Europe at large. Thus, all the scandalous issues regarding the horsemeat had relation with the initial scandal that was first at Ireland. Such scandals have forced most businesses, supermarkets to withdraw the packages with beef labels to test for horsemeat DNA (Neville, & Temple, 2007. P. 160). Moreover, the scandal having spread like wild fire there has been cases on tests done in many processed food packages that have had the traces of horse. Introduction When dealing with food products the law must have been sleeping in Europe. This becomes logic to many while considering the number of countries that have the horsemeat cases that has affected to a larger portion the market for the beef produced from the Europe’s factories. However much this is in those areas, it is a clear implication that, this is a real scandal on horsemeat and it must have been in the market for quite some time. Logically, selling humans consuming bute is not right but with horses it is okay (Lydia, & Thomson, 2013. Pp 20-21). Thus, as it is the human nature, human conscience is affected by what he/she consumes. Therefore, the scandal as it is, it is true and thus it has been the talk of the city that consuming such products as burger, you are eating the horsemeat. In some way, it sounds absurd and disgusting when you ingest what you did not indent to, and this is a health hazard according to the WHO food security concern. Europe is a larger beef supplier to many countries in the world, thus the change in the supply of their products to that of horsemeat jeopardizes the market for the beef (Spriggs, & Grant, 2001. P 109). Considering that beef is the main part of the burger and that the burgers have higher numbers of consumers, then this change on the quality is notably not good for human consumption. However, the European Union on noting the drastic changes in the market and having received the complains, it has launched the campaign to do random tests (Tom, W. & Martin, H., 2012. P 37). These tests have been set to check if the beef supplied to the stores, supermarkets and the products made from the beef contain any traces of the horsemeat. Thus, this is a clear sign that anyone considering the shift in food then they should consider the choices where they get their meat. Else, buying from any place the type of meat might affect their consumption levels due to the changes brought about by the supply of the horsemeat. Objectives It is the key objective of this report to provide an enquiry detail on the scandal pertaining horsemeat from the Europe’s meat industry factories. In addition, it provides an analysis on how these scandals had began the source, the implications of the scandal and the way forward on how to end the scandal. Justification From the tests carried out in different countries, starting with the Ireland country, not forgetting the Czech veterinary findings, the scandal becomes a reality that is a true testimony. Moreover, with IKEA pulling out meatballs from the 13 countries, it is a clear proof that all the meatballs that had been packed and labeled with beef and pork labels was not a mistaken marking. This implies the Europe’s meat factories as being biased on its supply strategies and the corruption levels at the industries in Europe. Although, the horsemeat is not harmful to health, it is absurd that I have direct effect on the market pricing. Therefore, the horse sold score the reason to lower the beef price. Thus, the drastic price changes and low price of the beef prices is a clear indication that there have been cases of the horsemeat found in the market sold as beef or pork. The selling of this product in the market has consequential effects on the pricing as well as the willingness of the buyers to buy the beef and the pork pack in the supermarkets. Factors leading to the selling of horse meat To a greater extend, the storming of the market with the horse meat means that the meat factories in Europe has been infected by the corrupt minds in that they need to sell what they don’t have. Thus, the need to acquire higher financial income is an implication that the markets all over Europe have become the target to tarnish the Europe meat export. However, it appears that most of the meat factories have compromised their business thus; they have focused on the one side of maximizing on selling low quality products. Control measures In fact, as a government there should be measures set to control and check the exports before they get to other countries. To avoid such claims contents of horsemeat found in the packs of beef and pork packs. The scandal was not in one buyer country but a channel of over 13 countries across the borders, thus it is clearly that the scandal was a real threat to the meat factories and the supermarkets not forgetting the market loss by the burger suppliers. Therefore, the governments should as much as the supply of the beef and pork is needed, impose heavy fees on those who contravene the laws governing the markets. Such laws must be set within the governments and the government to have its veterinary officers who should be checking all the products found in all the manufactures (Perry, Richard,. & Pickowicz, 2013. 269-270). This way, the risk of losing the market for their products, Europe’s beef and pork manufacturing and packaging industries would remain strong in the market. However, much the tests are done to check the horse DNA in the burger in many places, the scandal cannot die unless such laws are in place. The law enforcement groups that need to counter the lawbreakers who fail to adhere by the regulations of the act to curb such businesses should be vigilant on the evictions to the lawbreakers. Thus as it would be for the government rule to regulate the dubious business supplies, then they should focus on three main issues: Arrest and eviction of those found selling wrong or imposed packaged meat Setting up group professionals to foresee the process carried out successfully Encouraging retailers, supermarkets to be vigilant and test samples of their stock if it has contents of horse Shutdown the factories that are found dealing with such businesses that contravene the law on the export of human consumption products Discussion It would be a great loss some of the big businesses that have over time been boosted by the beef selling. For instance, burger king, which has over 500 outlets in the UK, has been faced with allegations of horsemeat. Figure 1: A leading burger shop that is faced with allegations of selling products with horse Overtime, this business may be dry with the customers because such allegations that there are cases of horsemeat would definitely be sent off message to the customers. Unless something urgent is done, and a deal is in place on the veterinary issues that would otherwise curb the mushrooming horsemeat scandal then this becomes a great threat to the business. The denial period on the matters regarding presence of the DNA in the beef sold to the consumers creates an alarming signal that may affect the sale of the beef in the exports (Unklesbay, 1992. P. 174). However, the involvement of the beef factories in exporting of the horsemeat is a great danger to the business partners in the market. Earlier in February 2013, the German market was hit by the scandal where high traces of horsemeat were found in the meat supplied. Clearly, this is a sure implication that horse has been over spread from Europe to other major business partner countries who trade in beef. The scandal became de facto when Switzerland’s Nestle planned to recall pasta meal that was in the stores at Spain, France and Italy. Nevertheless, food safety is one issue while considering that maintaining standards of the products that they supply is the alarming issue. Thus, as the standards get low the business will definitely get low as the direct effect of the low number of the consumer turn out. Conclusion and Recommendations Not only does the horsemeat scandal affect the standards in the meat factories but more effect is on the market relationship with the business partner countries. Thus, this action to supply the horsemeat is a definite challenge that if not considered, it would completely affect the market in the countries that such factories supply their products. This would result to drastic loss in the export industry thereby leading to closure and shutdown of most factories. This would come because of reduced number of consumers as well as the willing buyers who are ready to deal with such untrustworthy business. It would appear so absurd giving the consumers what they do not take thereby, such business goes against the human rights watch on food and health security. Notwithstanding the problems that may arise from the business, then many countries that have been in business with Sweden on the meat business have withdrawn from the transactions (Dominique, 2008. P. 112). Therefore, withdrawing from the business would mean low income from the export that the country earns from the imports and export duty. The issue of dealing with the horsemeat is not the issue but the issue is serving people with horsemeat as beef. Recommendations Customer trickery is more of mocking the consumer, thus most of the slaughterhouses needs thorough investigations as well supervisions while under watch to cover the risk of losing the business. Apparently, the stores might have other means of supply to fill their stock is more alarming thus calling for the veterinary administration to be on the watch of any outcome or plans to use the beef and pork packages to pack horsemeat. This action, contravenes law and thus it is an offence not to adhere to the WHO restrictions on human food. The Sweden authorities should be more vigilant to adhere to the WHO regulations on food safety and ensure all the meat products including those consumed within undergo DNA test to check if its beef, pork or any other type of meat. References Lydia D. & Thomson, S., 2013, The 2013 Meat Adulteration Scandal: Horse DNA in Beef Burgers!, FastBook Publishing, London. Pp. 20-27. Unklesbay, N., 1992, World food and you, Routledge, New York. Pp. 173-176 Dominique, M., 2008, Dead Horsemeat, Arcadia Books Limited, New Jersey. P 112 Neville, G. G, & Temple, G., 2007, Animal Welfare and Meat Production, CABI, Massachusetts, Pp. 160-163 Tom, W. & Martin, H., 2012, Dial M for Murdoch: News Corporation and the Corruption of Britain, Penguin Books Limited London, 37. Spriggs, J. & Grant, I., 2001, Food safety and international competitiveness: the case of beef, CABI, Massachusetts, 109-110. Perry, L., Richard, P. & Pickowicz, G., 2013, Restless China, Rowman & Littlefield,New York, 268-270. Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee, 2013, Contamination of Beef Products: Eighth Report of Session 2012-13, Vol. 1:, Stationery Office, 13-14. Read More