The Isle of Man meat plant recently disposed of more than 1.8 tonnes of meat, confirmed by Clare Barber MHK, the Minister of Environment, Food, and Agriculture. This revelation came during a session of Tynwald when Barber was questioned about the monthly disposal rate in 2024.
The significant waste occurred in the aftermath of a recall and subsequent destruction of certain beef products in January, prompted by production delays caused by a malfunctioning packaging machine.
According to Barber, there was no meat disposal in February and March. However, the situation changed in April due to several factors, including errors in stock management, the expiration of some stock, and the return of unsold items.
Barber expressed disappointment over the necessity to dispose of meat but noted that the quantity discarded in April represented only 0.01% of the average yearly processed volume of 1,950 tonnes at the facility.
Nevertheless, Bill Henderson MLC raised concerns about the substantial amount of waste, emphasizing the need for improved strategies to address such issues in the future.
Isle of Man Meats, a government-owned entity operating independently, receives an annual subvention of approximately £2m. Barber recognized the efforts of the farming community in raising animals and assured that measures were being taken to prevent similar incidents.
Management at the meat plant is actively addressing gaps in training and awareness among staff to minimize waste and explore commercially viable options for traditionally overlooked parts of the animal.
