Horsemeat scandal - A positive legacy

The horsemeat scandal has had an inevitable impact on the meat industry.

Sales of frozen beef burgers have borne the brunt of buyer disenchantment with almost half of consumers cutting back on the product.

Though replacing beef with horsemeat has no health implications, the breach of trust, vital in today’s industrial food production cycle, was bound to have consequences.

The affair may, however, have a positive legacy. If it makes consumers more aware and assertive about food products then this cloud will be seen to have a silver lining. Food labelling and intensive production systems for some animals, especially chicken, are fraught issues.

If this scandal stiffens resolve to confront issues around food integrity, then it will not have been a completely negative experience.