Horse meat scandal leads to 30% trade boost for butcher (From Bucks Free Press)
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Horse meat scandal leads to 30% trade boost for butcher
10:00am Friday 22nd February 2013 in News By James Nadal
Burgers on sale in the UK have been found to contain horse meat
A BUTCHER says the horse meat scandal led to a 30 per cent increase in his trade last week.
Bernie Longhurst, whose business operates in Brucewood Parade, Marlow Bottom, said more people are coming to him for their meat having lost trust in supermarkets.
And he has used humour to attract more interest, displaying signs outside the shop saying 'home made burgers 100% beef no added salt or shergar' and 'no horsing around'.
He told the MFP: "I was up 30 per cent last week and I hope it continues. The customers all say the same - 'we're not going to shop there anymore (the supermarket) we want to know where it comes from'."
A Europe wide investigation was sparked after horse DNA was discovered in frozen ready meals sold at supermarkets, with a string of products, some sold by big names in the industry, also then found to be affected as well.
Mr Longhurst was unsurprised by the revelations to some extent because he has long wondered how such cheap meat products could be offered.
He said: "I've been doing this 40 years. Butchers have known throughout the years it costs money to breed an animal, a farmers has got his overheads, vet bills, insurance etc, it all comes at a price.
"At the end of the day you get what you pay for. To make proper burgers unfortunately it comes at costs, if you want to cut corners that's what you get. How can you make six burgers for £1 as some shops have offered?"
The key difference his shop offers is that everything is traceable, he said, adding he believes the scandal so far is just the tip of the iceberg.
Kerry Grant, 40, a housewife, from Marlow Bottom stopped off at the store after being amused by the signs outside, She said: "I loved it, it was hilarious. It made me pull over to have a look, it's very good and it made my day."
Of the scandal, she said: ""There's no doubt in my mind that we've eaten horse at some point.It disgusts me to be honest, horses are beautiful so it makes me sick to my stomach. I'll definitely be using the butchers and wont be buying supermarket products until this is sorted."
Comments(12)
Welwyn Dowd
says...
12:26pm Fri 22 Feb 13
Flackwell
says...
1:46pm Fri 22 Feb 13
How ignorant or stupid can so many people be ?
thethe
says...
3:30pm Fri 22 Feb 13
chapmani
says...
4:35pm Fri 22 Feb 13
You get what you pay for.
Mr Totterdge Hill
says...
7:59pm Fri 22 Feb 13
chapmani wrote:Only applies to the blinkered individuals that eat Findus and Birds Eye every day because they are so lazy.
Made no difference to me, as I always buy my meat from a butcher and yes they will grind the meat in front of you if you so wish.
You get what you pay for.
Buy from a butcher... stop eating proceeded cr4p!
demoness the second
says...
8:10pm Fri 22 Feb 13
As others say.. you get what you pay for :)
Bookermum
says...
10:00pm Fri 22 Feb 13
Edgar Brooks
says...
11:39am Sat 23 Feb 13
Flackwell wrote:The only ignorant, or stupid, person seems to be you; like others, on here, it's made no difference to me, because, wanting to be able to taste the meat, rather than the spices added to mask the tastelessness of the product, I've been buying from a particular butcher for years.
Made no difference to 45% !!!! How ignorant or stupid can so many people be ?
thethe
says...
6:45pm Sat 23 Feb 13
Bookermum wrote:but surely you buy your meat or mince from somewhere so how do you know what is in it?
It has made no difference to me as we do not buy pre-made rubbish! We eat meatballs, burgers, lasagna etc etc, but it is all home made from scratch!
demoness the second
says...
7:04am Sun 24 Feb 13
thethe wrote:I think if my butcher tells me that his mince and burgers are all 100% beef chuck steak I am far more likely to believe him and it is far more probable than a huge multi conglomerate corporation who gets their meat from a variety of sources.
Bookermum wrote:but surely you buy your meat or mince from somewhere so how do you know what is in it?
It has made no difference to me as we do not buy pre-made rubbish! We eat meatballs, burgers, lasagna etc etc, but it is all home made from scratch!
The question should be.. why should we not trust him?
Besides you really can tell good quality minced beef steak as opposed to the rubbish that is served up in these burgers and ready meals.
Kiwipuss
says...
1:13pm Sun 24 Feb 13
All the gripe and moaning humans are doing is because they were NOT TOLD about this problem, horse meat is perfectly edible and has been for thousands of years, so why start moaning now? just make a visit to 'China town in London' and see the variety of animals and birds they cook and eat.
thethe says...
11:54am Fri 22 Feb 13