Yahoo News Shock as sheep trotters found outside abattoir and 'blood' seen in the street
Workers have spoken of their shock after finding sheep trotters outside an abattoir in Stockport. Pictures and video handed to the Manchester Evening News also appear to show blood running out of Manchester Abattoir Ltd into the road.
The Food Standards Agency, which regulates the abattoir industry, said it was 'aware'. Officials have carried out extra checks at the site, with the public health body continuing to 'monitor the issue'.
A man claiming to be the boss of the firm told the M.E.N: "It's not really the end of the world."
Images show sheep trotters on the pavement outside the abattoir on Higher Bury Road in Stockport town centre. More were pictured in the road.
Pictures and video also show what appears to be blood running down the street outside the business. One person, who works nearby, said: "The smell is just vile. Sometimes it's so horrendous we cover our faces with masks. It makes you feel physically sick.
"It's just horrible. If we get a customer, they'll ask 'what's that smell?' and we have to explain it. It's so bad sometimes you can't eat your dinner."
The M.E.N. visited the abattoir and asked to speak to the boss concerning the complaints. A worker took contact details. A man who declined to give his name - but who said he was the 'boss' - later called.
He said: "There are bigger things to report than a couple of sheep trotters outside an abattoir. If there's a bit of blood coming from the abattoir, it's not really the end of the world."
He said the leakage of blood had been a 'maintenance issue' with a pipe. He said the council and the Food Standards Agency had looked into the matter and that the problem had been 'resolved'. "It's not the end of the world," he said, before ending the call.
Robert Tindall, head of operations in the north for the Food Standards Agency, said: "We are aware of this, our staff have done extra checks in response to these concerns and we'll continue to monitor this issue. We are working closely with partners to look into complaints, as well as support Stockport local authority who are responsible for enforcing regulations around environmental impact."
A spokesperson for Stockport council said: "The Food Standards Agency (FSA) is the regulator for premises which store and transport animal by-products. This includes the meat hygiene and animal welfare at abattoirs as well as discharge into drainage by United Utilities.
"As such, reported issues have been referred to the FSA, including this latest report, and residents who have concerns are advised to do the same. The council can address problems with foul odours and council officers visited the area and found no evidence of animal by-products on the street. After investigating complaints about bad smells during warm weather, they concluded that no offences had been committed."
The firm's register at Companies House says Naweed Alam, 46, is a current director of Manchester Abattoir Ltd, which changed its name from Cheshire Halal Meats Ltd in 2018.
