A new team has been set up as part of a crackdown on rogue food traders in Northern Ireland, it emerged tonight.
It follows an investigation into a cold store business. Government officials took control of meat at Euro Freeze Ltd's premises in Co Fermanagh during a probe into alleged re-packaging and re-labelling.
The new Food Fraud Task Force will study and report on illegal operations, and consider actions to protect consumers.
The initiative, established by the Food Standards Agency, will initially focus on the meat sector but may be extended to the rest of the industry.
It will be chaired by Dr Philip Barlow, former Associate Professor of Food Science and Technology at the National University of Singapore.
David Statham, the FSA's director of enforcement, said: "Setting up this new task force signals the Agency's commitment and determination that everything that can be done to stamp out food fraud will be taken forward.
"Its ultimate aim is to improve consumer protection from fraud and unsafe practices. "It is clear that some current processes could and should be tightened and this review has been instigated to deliver solutions."
The probe into Euro Freeze began after the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development seized a consignment of chicken at Belfast port.