FSA welcomes meat owner jail sentence decision

The UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) has hailed a decision to reject the appeal by a UK meat plant owner to have his four-year jail sentence reduced.

In 2009, Yakub Moosa Yusuf, company owner of Direct Halal Meat and Poultry, Dewsbury, was sentenced to four and a half years in prison after violating a number of food hygiene regulations dating back to 2004, and then breaching his subsequent bail terms.

The penalty was challenged by Yusuf’s lawyers for being too harsh. However, Mrs Justice Rafferty, sitting with Lord Justice Pitchford and Judge Clement Goldstone QC, maintained that the length of the sentence was justified.

Sarah Appleby, head of enforcement at the Food Standards Agency, said: “Meat plants and other food manufacturers are legally responsible for ensuring that the food they sell is safe and fit for human consumption. Any food companies who break the law are putting consumers at serious risk, and so deserve prosecution. We therefore welcome the decision to reject Mr Yusuf’s appeal, and hope that this will send a clear message to those in the food industry who threaten public safety that the consequences can be very serious."