A Clacton firm which has been implicated in Britain's biggest ever food product re-call has denied that it has been inspected as part of the on-going investigation.
A spokesman for East Anglian Food Ingredients in Wade Road said that although it had handed over information to those carrying out the inquiry, it had not been personally visited.
"We can categorically state that we have not been inspected or visited by either the Food Standards or Essex County Council's trading standards," he said.
"EAFI has volunteered information but the last visit we had from trading standards was in December 2004, and that was for a routine inspection."
EAFI, which employs about 40 staff and is based on Clacton's Gorse Lane industrial estate, has been named by the FSA as one of three companies involved in the investigation.
David Statham, the FSA's director of enforcement, said Essex County Council will need to consider enforcement action against the two firms in the county depending on the basis of the evidence they collect.
Mike Hill, of Essex Trading Standards, emphasised the two companies in its area were both reputable firms.
The spokesman for EAFI reiterated that it would fully co-operate with any investigation.
More in today's Evening Gazette
Published Monday, February 28, 2005
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