Supermarkets, suppliers, producers, farmers, politicians and officials have been deeply involved in the horsemeat storm over the last few weeks.

For the most part, the food industry has concentrated on trying to understand the problem – which means identify and withdraw the products affected, carry out an extensive testing programme, get to the bottom of what’s happened and then sort it out. I think this is going to support customer trust and confidence more effectively than blame shifting.

We’re happy to have a debate about sourcing. British farms form the basis of our supply chain for both fresh and processed meat but we do import some products just as farmers export into the global market. It’s part of the modern food supply chain. I hope British farmers understand that we do not compromise on standards wherever we source. We’re very sorry that fraudulent behaviour has compromised our rigorous processes and we’re going to do everything we can to prevent it happening again.

We are in the midst of the most intensive programme of DNA food testing there has ever been. We continue to work round the clock to establish the extent and causes of these incidents. It’s a practical response that’s delivering facts and quickly getting us closer to solutions.

As of last Friday, retailers had the results of over a thousand tests, carried out in just four weeks and covering an impressive two thirds of all the processed beef products retailers sell. They show these incidents are far less widespread than was originally suggested with only five products testing positive, above the FSA’s threshold.  Those products have already been removed from sale. More results will be out this week.

I’m confident the huge and important exercise retailers, manufacturers and suppliers are engaged in shows those who say that the supply chain is fundamentally flawed are wrong - though there certainly are important issues that we all need to consider once the facts are known.

At the end of the day, casting aspersions will just add to consumers’ scepticism about us all – when in reality the answer lies in everyone working together to ensure consumer confidence is restored.

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