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Horsemeat scandal report calls for 'robust' Food Crime Unit

The long-awaited report into the food industry launched after last year's horsemeat scandal has called for a "robust, effective" Food Crime Unit to protect the industry and consumers from criminal activity.

Professor Chris Elliott's report calls for unannounced audits and a zero-tolerance approach to help protect consumers from more incidents like the horsemeat scandal.

Consumers must be put first by ensuring that their needs in relation to food safety and food crime prevention are the "top priority", the government-commissioned report states.

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Elliot report into food fraud expected to be published

A long-awaited report into the food industry which was launched after last year's horsemeat scandal is due to be published later this morning.

Horsemeat on display in a butchers shop in Germany. Credit: PA

Professor Chris Elliot's report into food fraud is expected to warn that the industry is susceptible to criminal activity.

In an interim report published last December, Elliot urged the creation of a specialist unit to tackle food fraud and protect consumers.

The report was initially due out in the spring, but was pushed back due to the European elections.

The Department of Environment and Rural Affairs (Defra) commissioned the report after horsemeat was found in a number of food products labelled as beef.

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