ABATTOIRS “marking their own exam papers” could put public health in grave danger, public-sector union Unison warned today. 

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) board is set to agree today on a plan to provide financial incentives to abattoirs inspecting their own meats.

But Unison — representing hundreds of meat inspectors and veterinarians — has urged the FSA to decline the proposal due to the risk posed by potential conflict of interets. 

“Giving the industry carte blanche to inspect its own products is yet another cynical attempt at privatisation which would save the industry money at the expense of public safety,” said Unison general secretary Dave Prentis.

The FSA was criticised earlier this year for deciding at the last minute not to name chicken retailers testing their own wares for the campylobacter bacterium. 

Mr Prentis added that yet again “the FSA has not consulted the public and has no mandate to privatise this section of the meat industry.”