French wholesaler denies fraud in European horsemeat case
16 Feb 2013 6:33 AM IST
A French wholesaler at the heart of a growing uproar over horsemeat mislabeled as beef and hidden in frozen meals denied any fraud on Friday, saying he has proof that his company is innocent of any wrongdoing.
Barthelemy Aguerre, the chief of Spanghero, told RTL radio that his company in southern France did receive a lot of horsemeat along with beef, ‘and we didn't touch’ it. He did not provide details or specify whether he reported the horsemeat delivery, saying only, ‘I will prove my innocence.’
French Consumer Affairs Minister Benoit Hamon said on Thursday that it appeared fraudulent meat sales over several months reached across 13 countries and 28 companies. Hamon fingered Spanghero as a major culprit, but said there was plenty of blame to go around.
Europol, the European Union police agency, is coordinating a continent-wide fraud investigation amid allegations of an international criminal conspiracy to substitute horse for more expensive beef.
Barthelemy Aguerre, the chief of Spanghero, told RTL radio that his company in southern France did receive a lot of horsemeat along with beef, ‘and we didn't touch’ it. He did not provide details or specify whether he reported the horsemeat delivery, saying only, ‘I will prove my innocence.’
French Consumer Affairs Minister Benoit Hamon said on Thursday that it appeared fraudulent meat sales over several months reached across 13 countries and 28 companies. Hamon fingered Spanghero as a major culprit, but said there was plenty of blame to go around.
Europol, the European Union police agency, is coordinating a continent-wide fraud investigation amid allegations of an international criminal conspiracy to substitute horse for more expensive beef.
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