Investigations into Meat Standards

Can you tell me how many investigations into meat standards have been launched into meat standards in the past five years?

Can you break down these numbers into how many happened each year, and tell me as much as you can regarding where and what was looked into? Also, what were the findings of each investigation?

Can you also tell me how many complaints you have received about the quality of meat in that time, again breaking that into each year? Also, can you tell me where these complaints related to and what was the nature of them?

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance Food Standards Scotland (FSS) does not have some of the information you have requested. 

FSS have not launched any investigations into meat standards.  We have received 10 complaints and I have attached a spreadsheet to show the details of the complaints.

Food Standards Scotland (FSS) was established on 1 April 2015, when it took responsibility for the functions previously delivered in Scotland by the Food Standards Agency (FSA).  You may wish to contact the FSA for information relating years prior to April 2015.

An exemption under section 38(1)(b) of FOISA (personal information) applies to a small amount of the information requested because it is personal data of a third party and disclosing it would contravene the data protection principles in Schedule 1 to the Data Protection Act 1998.  This exemption is not subject to the ‘public interest test’, so we are not required to consider if the public interest in disclosing the information outweighs the public interest in applying the exemption.