BBC Learning English
Words in the News
Horsemeat scandal
11 February 2013
The Romanian government says it is investigating claims that horsemeat found in food
products in several European countries came from Romania.
Paris correspondent Christain Fraser reports:
It is a convoluted supply chain involving Dutch and Cypriot agents, two French
processing companies and Romanian abattoirs. But where in that complex network did
horse become beef?
The investigation is focused on the paperwork, the export documents which should
certify what kind of frozen meat is being transported. In Romania two of the 35 European
approved abattoirs were involved: one that deals only in horses has now been cleared 
the other, some 450km from Bucharest, slaughters both cattle and horses and remains
part of the inquiry.
In France, where six supermarket chains have withdrawn products, the Prime Minister
has called an emergency meeting.
The Romanian President is also deeply concerned.  I hope the false labelling of meat
does not come from this country, he said.  False labelling for financial profit would
harm Romania s credibility for years to come - with serious implications, he added, for
our export market.
Words in the News © British Broadcasting Corporation 2013
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Vocabulary and definitions
convoluted complicated
supply chain the sequence of processes involved in taking a
product from where it is made to where it is sold
abattoirs buildings where animals are killed for their meat
paperwork written records and documents
cleared proved innocent
some about, approximately
slaughters kills animals for meat
inquiry an official process to find out information about
something that has happened (also spelled 'enquiry'
in the UK)
credibility believability, trustworthiness
implications possible future effects
Read and listen to the story and the vocabulary online:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2013/02/130211_witn_horsemeat.shtml
Related News story
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-21401111
Words in the News © British Broadcasting Corporation 2013
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