The Independent reports today that chicken sold in the UK has been secretly injected with traces of beef and pork waste by food manufacturers looking to artificially plump up chicken breasts.

The Independent, cites a Food Standards Agency report that states: ‘the fraud has been taking place for at least the past two years, and still continues because of inaction by the authorities in three EU states, believed to be Germany, Netherlands and Spain.’

Tests by the Food Standards Agency picked up traces of beef in one of three chicken breasts tested.

The FSA notes, "The study of a small number of injection powders used in chicken breast products has indicated the presence of undeclared, mammalian peptides, i.e., from a non-poultry source in the samples analysed. The analyses applied indicate the presence of bovine collagen in all the powders sampled and suggest the presence of porcine collagen in some of the powders."

The FSA's findings are deeply offensive to those that rely on stringent statutory measures to ensure that dietary and religious practices are observed by the meat industry.

For Muslims and Jews, whose religion forbids the consumption of pork, the FSA’s findings will raise questions of why no action has been taken to clamp down on the practice that deceives consumers.

The Food Standards Agency has a Muslim Organisations Working Group (MOWG) which oversees the provision of halal meat in the UK. At the European level, the DIALREL project, funded by the European Commission, brings together faith groups and others to discuss issues around religious slaughter.

The FSA’s report comes on the day of the EU elections - one of the postcards prepared by the EU (below), to signify the important role the European Parliament plays on issues of everyday importance, concerned food labeling.

Read the FSA press release here. Contact for the FSA's Diversity branch is Shaheen Zar, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Members of the FSA's Muslim Organisations Working Group include the Halal Food Authority and Dr Shuja Shafi of the Muslim Council of Britain.