Following the largest beef recall in the US - over 140 million pounds - the US Department of Agriculture has announced a new rule; retailers supplied with contaminated meat will be now be named.

It is absolutely shocking that this has only just been introduced. Currently, when meat is recalled, only the name of the company recalling the meat is made public, along with a description of the meat and brand names, but that is no use to consumers since noone knows where this meat is being sold. The new rule will ensure that the grocery stores stocking the contaminated meat will be named.

But to all you meat eaters out there, don’t think you’re safe - the new rule doesn’t apply to all meat recalls (only those with the most serious risk to health) and plus, most often recalls do not occur until it is way to late, i.e. the diseased meat is already in your belly.

Surprise, surprise, the meat industry has come out against the new rule saying it could ‘confuse’ consumers. They know as well as anyone how damaging it would be for a meat retailer to be named as a seller of potentially lethal contaminated meat. Best bet; stay away from meat all together.