Goodman group settles with supplier in horsemeat affair

The food group at the heart of the horsemeat controversy earlier this year is suing a Polish supplier and has accepted a financial settlement from another British supplier over the scandal.

ABP said it has begun High Court proceedings for breach of contract against Polish supplier, Food Service. It said the action related to “their supply of beef containing equine DNA” to Silvercrest Foods which is one of ABP’s plants.

The food group, which is owned by beef magnate, Larry Goodman, said it has agreed to accept an undisclosed financial settlement from Norwest Foods for also supplying beef containing equine DNA to Silvercrest.

It quoted the British supplier as saying: “Norwest acknowledges that it may have unknowingly and unwittingly supplied contaminated beef products contrary to the terms of Norwest’s contract with ABP.

Norwest wishes to apologise to ABP for any inconvenience or concerns caused by this supply.”

ABP said details of the financial settlement were subject to a confidentiality agreement.

Paul Finnerty, chief executive of the ABP Group, said his company had always insisted it never knowingly provided beef that contained equine DNA to any of its customers.

It said that had been confirmed in the findings of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine’s report of Mar 2013.

“ABP’s initial focus was to implement systems to ensure this cannot recur and establish the source of certain contaminated product,” he said.

“We have done that now and our current focus is on seeking redress against certain suppliers. We have already resolved matters with Norwest and will now pursue our claim against Food Service through the courts.”

The horsemeat scandal exploded on Jan 15 with the publication of test results on beef products conducted by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland which also showed some products contained pork DNA.