Stakeholder responses: Consultation on mechanically separated meat (MSM) guidance

Annex A: Responses to closed-ended questions - MSM guidance consultation

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) sought feedback relating to new mechanically separated meat (MSM) guidance that is intended to provide support for Food Business Operators (FBO) following court judgments that clarify how the definition of MSM should be interpreted and applied.

Last updated: 6 September 2024

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Last updated: 6 September 2024

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Responses to closed-ended questions about the respondents

Q1. Which of the following options best describes you as a respondent?

46 out of 48 respondents answered this question:

Food business that uses mechanical separation equipment - 8
Food business that uses MSM as an ingredient - 8
Local Authority - 4
Trade Association - 6
Consumer - 14
Other - 6

Q2. Have you read through the ‘Guidance on Mechanically Separated Meat (MSM)’ and ‘Consultation on Mechanically Separated Meat (MSM) Guidance’ documents prior to completing this survey?

44 out of 48 respondents answered this question:

No - 2
Yes - 42

Q3. Select where you are based

45 out of 48 respondents answered this question (please note multiple answers were possible):

England - 39
Wales - 7
Northern Ireland - 8
None of the above - 2

Q4. How many staff does your organisation employ?

16 out of 17 respondents answered this question:

9 or fewer (micro) - 1
10 - 49 employees (small) - 1
50 - 249 employees (medium) - 3
250 or greater employees (large) - 11

Q5. Is your food business approved in accordance with assimilated Regulation (EC) No. 853/2004 in GB / Regulation (EC) No. 853/2004 in Northern Ireland?

7 out of 17 respondents answered this question:

None of the above - 1
Yes, approved by the Food Standards Agency - 6
Yes, approved by the Local Authority - 0
Don't know - 0

Q6. Does your business produce MSM or meat preparations?

8 out of 17 respondents answered this question:

None of the above - 1
Yes, my organisation currently produces MSM in compliance with the Regulations and new Guidance - 4
Yes, my organisation currently produces MSM but is adapting its activities/processes in line with the Court judgments regarding the definition of MSM - 1
Yes, my organisation produces meat preparations - 2
Don't know - 0

Q7. Does your business manufacture products containing MSM meat or meat preparations?

9 out of 17 respondents answered this question:

None of the above - 1
Yes, my organisation manufactures products containing MSM in compliance with the Regulations and new Guidance - 0
Yes, my organisation manufactures products containing MSM but is adapting its activities/processes in line with the Court judgments - 5
Yes, my organisation manufactures products containing meat preparations - 3
Don't know - 0