A SLAUGHTERHOUSE in County Durham has been slapped with a fine after admitting a failure to comply with regulations designed to prevent mad cow disease entering the food chain.

Family-run JA Jewitt (Meat) Ltd was ordered to pay out almost £7,000 at a hearing in Newton Aycliffe attended by its three directors on Wednesday.

It marked the first conviction for the Spennymoor-based business which was established in 1954.

Magistrates heard on two occasions sirloins originating from the abattoir were found to contain parts of the back bone - that are categorised as ‘specified risk material’ - in Gateshead slaughterhouses which are unauthorised to remove the material.

Howard Shaw, prosecuting counsel on behalf of the Food Standards Agency, said specified risk material was matter within animals identified as giving rise to the risk of spreading bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) - more commonly known as mad cow disease.

He told magistrates some slaughterhouses were authorised to remove such material but on October 28, 2015, and March 9, 2016, bovine carcases were supplied to unauthorised premises by the Spennymoor meat wholesaler.

Following the first incident JA Jewitt was notified of the breach.

Mr Shaw said: “Because it was forwarded to cutting plants where no training (to remove it) was in place, there is a risk to the public arising from the possibility of BSE entering the food chain.”

The court heard despite this the risk to human health appeared to be low while Mr Shaw added the risk to consumer confidence was “likely to be very high”.

“Fortunately on this occasion no such meats entered the food chain,” he said. Laura Phillips, mitigating counsel, said delivery drivers on both occasions were said to have incorrectly handed over meat intended for authorised slaughterhouses.

She told the court immediate steps including the retraining of drivers and change in the delivery system were taken to resolve the issue each time and the company had accepted and fully cooperated in the investigation, the court heard.

Ms Phillips said it had no previous convictions and in more than six decades had had no issues with food safety.

The court heard it had high food, health and safety accreditations from the British Retail Consortium and Red Tractor.

The company pleaded guilty to two counts of possessing for sale or supplying food containing specified risk material for human consumption.

Chairman of the bench Stephen Bowser fined the slaughterhouse £2,000 for each offence and ordered it to pay £2,661 prosecution costs and a £120 victim surcharge.