DENBIGHSHIRE Council has launched a series of checks on the quality of meat served in its schools, residential homes and leisure centres in the wake of the horsemeat scandal.
A spokesman for the council said: “The council is committed to providing the best services possible to all of its consumers.
“As a result, it has carried out extensive checks with its food providers in light of the food labelling issues and no issues have emerged to date.
“We have rigorous processes in place and we already work closely with TUCO, the food consortium used by the council and they have contacted all its meat product suppliers, asking them to submit evidence that authenticity checks have been carried out to ensure that no horse meat is used in any of its products.
“The council is also contacting any suppliers outside the TUCO arrangement.
“Additional checks with our suppliers to schools, residential homes and leisure centres have been carried and no issues have emerged so far.
“However, residents in Denbighshire can be reassured that the council will continue liaising with its suppliers in order to carry out further checks.”
Prestatyn butcher John Wilford Roberts, 66, who has worked at his High Street shop for 52 years has witnessed an increase in trade since news of the horsemeat affair broke.
Mr Roberts said: “Customers are telling me they have lost confidence in the meat producers and supermarkets.
“It is the producers who are to blame but the people who are selling it should know what they are putting on their shelves.
“We have seen a 20 per cent increase in trade.
“At the moment we are getting more people.
“I source my meat from local farmers.
“It all comes from Wales.
“I know my suppliers personally.
“What the labels say it is, it is.
“I have not seen anything like this before, we have had mad cow disease and foot an mouth but this has knocked the public worse.”