Turkey tycoon breaks silence over flu scare

Published on Thursday 15 February 2007 11:51

BERNARD MATTHEWS, who owns the turkey farm where bird flu was discovered, broke his silence to apologise for the outbreak - but insisted it was not his fault.

The millionaire, famous for his catchphrase "Bootiful" in his firm's television adverts, was speaking for the first time since the disease was found at the Suffolk plant 15 days ago.

He strenuously denied there had been any cover up of his farm's links to Hungary, where the same strain of bird flu was found in geese. He said: "There has been absolutely no cover up at our end. I've been upset about allegations that we withheld information. That is completely untrue.

"It's my name on the packet and I wouldn't let it go out to the shelves if I thought there was anything wrong with it.

"Avian flu is a threat not just to my business but to all those in my industry here and abroad. I know some of you will have ruled turkey off the menu and that is devastating to me."