AN ARTISAN cheesemaker has told how he had to lay off almost all his staff after the banning of produce linked to a deadly outbreak of E.coli that killed a three year old girl.
The founder of Errington Cheese, Humphrey Errington, the founder of Errington Cheese, told a public meeting last night in Edinburgh of the personal consequences after his Dunsyre Blue cheese was ordered to be taken off the shelves.
The meeting at the Augustine United Church was set up “in defence of artisan food and Errington Cheese” and was attended by about 150 people including producers and restaurateurs.
The firm, based in Carnwath, South Lanarkshire, is currently challenging the ban through the courts.
The event came after Lord Bannatyne, sitting at the Court of Session, said that a “detention” of the firm’s cheese by health officials at the local council was unlawful. The case is to return to court where evidence on the safety of the cheese will be heard by a sheriff.
Mr Errington, who said family firm’s legal bill has reached £85,000, said: “We were told that in effect we had caused the death of a three-year-old child.
“I have lost a lot of sleep as a consequence. We had to lay off virtually all our staff. One had been with us since a teenager. They were all local people and all highly trained.”
Donald Reid, gastronomy lecturer at Queen Margaret University, told the meeting the case also “carries through to restaurants and many others”. He said the “chain reaction from clamping down on the small scale food producers” would impact on people who enjoy a wide range of artisan foods in restaurants and stores.
Andy Wightman MSP said the meeting had raised key questions over the organisation of food safety in Scotland.
Colin Fink of Warwick University, who was involved in the independent testing of the cheeses and they where found not have organisms pathological to humans.
He said: “One of the things that worried me particularly in this case was that the epidemiological evidence seemed implausible.”
Errington last week secured a decision at the Court of Session to suspend the council-imposed “detention notices” Lanark Blue and Corra Linn giving the council until 5pm today to respond.
Wendy Barrie, director Scottish Food Guide/Scottish Cheese Trail, Joanna Blythman, Herald food critic and author, and Pamela Brunton, chef and co-owner award-winning restaurateur were also among those at the event.
Ms Blythman said a crowd fund which she set up had raised 26,000 pounds for the defence of artisan food and to aid the Errington cause.
Ms Brunton said question marks over the case jeopardise the future of the Scottish food and drink industry.
Wendy Barrie, director Scottish Food Guide/Scottish Cheese Trail, Joanna Blythman, Herald food critic and author, and Pamela Brunton, chef and co-owner award-winning restaurateur were also among those at the event.
Ms Blythman said a crowd fund which she set up had raised 26,000 pounds for the defence of artisan food and to aid the Errington cause.
Ms Brunton said question marks over the case jeopardise the future of the Scottish food and drink industry.
A week ago, Mr Errington has given the court an undertaking given not to seek to market products until 5pm today, to allow the local authority time to consider whether to take alternative action. under different legislation “properly protected the public health point”.
A South Lanarkshire Council spokesman said: “The council’s sole objective has been to protect public health, and we are clear that our actions in pursuit of this objective have been proportionate and appropriate under the various food regulations.” as they apply to the Food Alert for Action which was issued by Food Standards Scotland.
“We will proceed in the same manner and continue to act in the interest of public health.”
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