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.
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
Responses to closed-ended questions on the MSM Guidance
The following information was obtained from responses to the online survey.
Q8. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements?
Q8a: The Guidance on MSM is easy to understand.
35 out of 48 respondents answered this question:
- Strongly Agree - 3
- Agree - 10
- Neither Agree nor Disagree - 8
- Disagree - 6
- Strongly Disagree - 8
- Don’t Know - 0
- Not Relevant - 0
Q8b. To what extent do you agree or disagree that the Guidance on MSM aids understanding of the Regulations.
35 out of 48 respondents answered this question:
- Strongly Agree - 3
- Agree - 12
- Neither Agree nor Disagree - 5
- Disagree - 6
- Strongly Disagree - 9
- Don’t Know - 0
- Not Relevant - 0
Q8c. The Guidance on MSM is relevant to me and/or my business/organisation.
34 out of 37 respondents answered this question:
- Strongly Agree - 11
- Agree - 13
- Neither Agree nor Disagree - 5
- Disagree - 0
- Strongly Disagree - 2
- Don’t Know - 0
- Not Relevant - 3
Q8d. To what extent do you agree or disagree that the Guidance helps businesses understand how to comply with regulatory requirements regarding MSM.
35 out of 48 respondents answered this question:
- Strongly Agree - 3
- Agree - 10
- Neither Agree nor Disagree - 6
- Disagree - 3
- Strongly Disagree - 9
- Don’t Know - 0
- Not Relevant - 4
Q8e. The Q&A annex to the Guidance provides additional information that is useful.
35 out of 48 respondents answered this question:
- Strongly Agree - 5
- Agree - 11
- Neither Agree nor Disagree - 10
- Disagree - 2
- Strongly Disagree - 7
- Don’t Know - 0
- Not Relevant - 0
Q8f. The Guidance covers all relevant matters in relation to MSM.
35 out of 48 respondents answered this question:
- Strongly Agree - 5
- Agree - 4
- Neither Agree nor Disagree - 7
- Disagree - 6
- Strongly Disagree - 13
- Don’t Know - 0
- Not Relevant - 0