A Northern Ireland meat processing company has been prosecuted for a number of offences against food regulations, including falsely labelling beef products and Halal meats.

Freeza Meats Ltd was prosecuted at Newry Magistrate’s Court yesterday and fined £42,500, as well as £71,902 in court costs and a £180 offender’s levy.

The Newry company pleaded guilty to 12 offences including substituting meat ingredients with cheaper products such as beef hearts and not declaring the ingredients, falsely labelling product as Halal when non-Halal ingredients were used and failing to provide information relating to suppliers and traceability on several occasionson several occasions.

The court action was brought against the company by Newry Mourne and Down District Council following an investigation supported by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) in Northern Ireland. The 121 offences were found to be against the Food Safety Order (NI) 1991 and the General Food Regulations (NI) 2004.