Post date: Feb 10, 2013 8:6:31 PM
French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius says an investigation is needed and there will be strong sanctions against those found responsible in horsemeat scandal.
PARIS, FRANCE (FEBRUARY 10, 2013) (BFM TV) - The French government must launch an investigation and apply strong sanctions to punish those found responsible for selling horse meat instead of beef to consumers said French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius on Sunday (February 10).
Speaking to a French broadcaster about the growing scandal that started in Britain but has now spread to France, Fabius said:"Not only do we need an investigation but there will be sanctions. It's terrible! Let's imagine a family talking about this around a table, one would say "it's disgusting" because consumers are not responsible for this. They buy a product and they are given some old bad meat, if I understood correctly. There are certainly people who make profit out of this. So traceability is needed, and that is what the French government proposes, and he is right, and we need sanctions, strong sanctions," said Fabius.
Another Minister, Benoit Hamon, French consumer affairs minister, said on Saturday (February 9) that an investigation had found that the horse meat had originated inRomania, although there were links with French, Dutch and Cypriot firms and a factory inLuxembourg.
Six big French retailers said on Sunday they were recalling lasagne meals and other products suspected of being mis-labelled after the discovery of horsemeat in beef products.
Eating horsemeat is a taboo in Britain and although once common fare in France it has been out of fashion for decades.
A meeting gathering the main actors of the meat sector and the ministers concerned will take place at Finance Minister on Monday (February 11) to discuss the situation.