Vegan activists holding one of their regular peaceful vigils outside the Newmans slaughterhouse, Peabody road, were accosted by slaughtermen covered in blood.
On the 16th September, local activists attended Newman's abattoir to hold a vigil, when four slaughtermen left the kill floor in bloodied and contaminated coveralls and replaced the gatekeeper on the entrance.
They stood behind the wire fencing for a while just laughing and making gestures, they were making a point of showing us their blood stained clothes and faces. They seemed get pleasure in trying to upset us, they wanted a reaction. When a trailer arrived they approached us and tried to intimidate us and were shouting
They were being verbally abusive, and playing on the fact that we were all women. when we started to film they backed off and quitened down a bit ~ Gemma
Members of the local community, as well as our activist, have made numerous complaints to the local borough councils environmental health team and the foods standards agency.
We received the following response from the principle EHO back in august and still no reply from the FSA.
"Further to our telephone conversation, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) enforces staff hygienic practices inside the abattoir and surrounding area.
The FSA advises there is a changing facility at the abattoir and the staff usually change clothes before leaving the site. However, to be able to enforce on this the FSA would require any evidence that you could provide.
There are a couple of butcher shops in the area and there are also a few private businesses (with their drivers) collecting meat from the abattoir, so it would need to be established that it is abattoir employees." ~ Principle EHO
Over recent months we have sent evidence as requested, but still no reply or action from the FSA.
One resident said "There are 5 or 6 workers that live in the house next door to the abattoir, they are always going to the local shop dressed in bloodied overalls"
The Meat industry Guide (MIG) and Food Standards Agency (FSA) Standards and legislation is clear on the use of "protective clothing", workers should not be moving between dirty and clean areas to avoid contimination of food products and processes.
We contacted Newman's abattoir for a comment, They declined to comment at this time.
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