Letters: ‘Food production must face toughest investigations’

WE need to know what is being done to protect us from the hybrid form of food production, especially if it is canned or ready meals.

The infusion of horse meat into our bovine food chain is surely gross negligence of our health and safety and food standards, because it has been labelled as “beef”.

Several supermarkets have revealed that tests have shown horse DNA present in products.

There is no doubt that a very serious evaluation will have to be done – at home and abroad – because this could be a global problem.

There has been a sad lack of political will recently both in Scotland and the rest of the UK over safe and health food production.

How far back does the infusion of horse meat into our bovine products go?

Food has not exactly been a high priority for modern governments and ministers, both in Edinburgh and Westminster, but it is fair to say local authorities have shown leadership in improving food health policies.

Chas Dennis, Niddrie Marischal Road, Edinburgh

Sweet treats put horse in context

I READ the story about hundreds queuing to buy doughnuts at the new Krispy Kreme at Hermiston Gait (What a sugar rush, News, February 14) with interest.

Compared to all the long-term health risks known to be associated with eating sugar rich foods, I wonder if unknowingly eating a little horse meat is such a big deal?

John Addison, Roslin, Midlothian

Scotland will gain respect of world

Angus McGregor (Letters, February 14) wonders what the world will think of Scotland if we vote for independence.

Having been overseas for some time, I suspect I know how both the world and ourselves would see us on the day after we vote.  

If, for example, Scotland votes “Yes”, there will no doubt be a buzz around the country as we ponder an exciting future, whilst the world’s media will no doubt descend upon us, breathlessly interviewing citizens of the world’s ‘new’ country about our nation’s future.

I suspect a general feeling of optimism and satisfaction would engulf us all.

On the other hand. if we vote “no”, apart from the sense of relief felt by a few staunch Unionists, the feeling throughout the land would be one of despair and anti-climax.

We would also look somewhat foolish in the eyes of the world.

Here, after all, was a country that reared itself up to have a referendum on whether it wanted to run itself or live on a block grant handed to it by a superior parliament, and decided on the latter – exit the world’s interest and probably respect.

Do we really want to be the first country in the world to have a choice between independence and dependency and choose the latter? And would you invest in a country that did?

Karen Burchill, Warrender Park Road, Edinburgh