Alex Fisher, group managing director, said: “3663 would like to clarify that the very small number of halal savoury beef pastry products that have been withdrawn from supply were only ever distributed to custodial establishments.
“The products in question are from one particular food manufacturer, McColgan Quality Foods Limited, and have not been distributed to any other customer. All halal products from this manufacturer have been withdrawn.”
Jeremy Wright Justice Minister said: "This is an absolutely unacceptable situation and one which we regret greatly. Clearly this must be distressing for those affected and they can be reassured we are doing everything we can to resolve the situation. The prison service is investigating this as a matter of urgency.”
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has issued a statement: “We have been informed that a number of meat pies and pasties supplied to prisons in England and Wales were labelled and served as halal but contained traces of pork DNA.
“The local authority is investigating how this contamination came about and whether these products have been distributed further across the UK.
“People have a right to expect that the food they are eating is correctly described. We have called an urgent meeting of major retailers and suppliers (today, February 4), to ensure that everyone is fully aware of their responsibilities.
“It is the responsibility of food businesses to ensure the food they sell contains what it says on the label.”
3663 is currently contracted to distribute a wide range of products including ambient, frozen, fresh and chilled foods to the MOJ from fully accredited and approved manufacturers and producers.
Added Fisher: “Following recent publicity concerning content of horsemeat in the consumer goods food chain, 3663 recognised a potential connection between a halal beef producer mentioned within the FSAI (Food Safety Authority of Ireland) report and a supplier of halal savoury beef pastry products stocked for the MOJ.
“We took immediate steps to inform the MOJ of this potential connection purely as a precautionary measure and together took the decision that these halal savoury beef pastry products should be quarantined to prevent their use pending DNA testing.
“We initiated DNA testing on multiple production batches of the halal savoury beef pastry products from the manufacturer in question. Disappointingly, we received evidence that within the products tested there were traces of porcine protein. These results shocked us as the manufacturer in question is accredited by the Halal Food Authority.
“We have removed all halal products from this manufacturer from the supply chain and 3663 will not source any further halal products from this manufacturer.
“Our sentiments echo those of the Ministry of Justice, in that this is a wholly unacceptable situation and one that we deeply regret, we are however relieved that our own prompt actions following identifying a potential risk from the FSAI report enabled the earliest possible removal of these products from sale.”