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In the same week that the company confirmed that it will close 12 restaurants, the Jamie Oliver Restaurant Group is today among a number of businesses affected by an investigation by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) into a “serious non-compliance with food hygiene regulations” at the British meat supplier Russell Hume, as reported by The Mirror.
Bosses at the TV chef’s restaurants have acted swiftly to reassure customers that it has immediately removed all products supplied by the Derby-based business’ plant in Birmingham. It comes after an unscheduled inspection at the plant which took place on 12 January.
A spokesperson on behalf of Jamie Oliver Restaurant Group told Eater London:
“All Russell Hume meat was removed from restaurants as soon as we were notified on Monday. This was a day before the FSA asked for meat to be removed. We also switched suppliers.
“We have very strict higher welfare and food standards and to ensure our suppliers uphold these standards, we have an independent team that audits all our key suppliers, including meat. Following an inspection at the end of last year and the fact we have full traceability on our meat, we are confident that none of the meat we buy would have been impacted.”
It was also confirmed that Oliver’s restaurants are offering steak on its menus, but the spokesperson was unable to immediately confirm by whom it was now being supplied.
On its website, the FSA says it has “stopped any product from leaving [Russell Hume] sites until the business can provide assurances that they are complying with the relevant legislation, and that they are producing safe food. We have also instructed Russell Hume to undertake a withdrawal of all affected product in the supply chain.”
Other notable businesses supplied by Russell Hume who have been affected by the product recall and meat suspension include the pub chains Wetherspoons, Marston’s group and Greene King.
It was following a report by The Sun that Wetherspoons had cancelled steak nights and suspended the service of steak on its menus at all of its 936 pubs across the UK that the FSA’s investigation was discovered.