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Tuesday 17 June 2014

BBC does an Upton Sinclair on slaughterhouse corruption


Well, it is all there. We know the names the voices and the places. A tale worthy of Upton Sinclair (The Jungle).

We almost know the pigs by name.

On BBC tonight - the intimidation, the cruelty, the fraud, the corruption, the hypocrisy, the disease, the dangers to the food chain, the dangers to our trading partners, and the dangers to the children.

This is the biggest scandal of the century.

So, for sure, for those listening, the horrors of what has been going on in Britain for the past couple of decades has partly been blown.

Defra, Britain's infamous corrupt agricultural ministry, refused to become involved in the BBC programme.

Much, much worse is yet to come. It is a great sadness, that this is only the beginning of the end. The end will be the recognition of a human disaster of massive proportions and restitution to the victims.

British government veterinarians are responsible and they are running scared of international justice catching up with them.

Nobody, in their right mind,  interferes with witnesses to Britain's Parliament and that coupled with the human deaths is the road to very long gaol sentences for those responsible.

You can get it on iplayer maybe here - http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b046kybw


Inside the Abattoir
Duration: 38 minutes
First broadcast: Tuesday 17 June 2014

The recent furore over halal meat has focused attention on how our meat is killed and processed.

But beyond the ethical and religious debate over halal, are there bigger concerns about how abattoirs are regulated and policed?

Companies have been fined for failing to remove body parts associated with the human form of mad cow disease, BSE.

Now there are plans to shake-up the inspection process which critics say this could lead to more infected animals entering the food chain.

There are also claims that vets based in abattoirs to monitor animal welfare - and inspectors who check meat we eat is safe - regularly face threats and intimidation.

Allan Urry investigates the grim realities of the slaughterhouse.