Madam, Further to your article in last week's Ross Gazette concerning the horse meat scandal and alternative sources of meat instead of supermarkets. As a consultant to the dairy and cattle industry, with decades of experience, it is not just horse meat in the food chain that concerns me.

I only buy certified organic meat, which today is the only meat that you can confidently trust to be genuinely traceable, free from chemicals, antibiotics or growth hormones. It is certified and regularly inspected at every stage from production to retail.

The current culture in the food industry and its relentless lobbying of Government has resulted in a stubborn reluctance to accurately label products.This shows little or no respect for consumers, and leaves them unable to make informed judgments on the products they choose to buy, as the information they need is deliberately hidden from view.

Owen Paterson, the Environment Secretary, recently announced that 85% of cattle food contains genetically modified maize or soya and that 70% of all meat, milk, eggs and poultry come from animals that have been fed GM crops. This has never been highlighted to the consumers when product labelling. Had this been done then many consumers may not have chosen to buy this product, which I assume is why it has never been labelled.

To me, horse meat in a burger is the least of your worries, and the tip of an unwholesome and dis-honest "food-berg," which conceals a Pandora's Box of greed, fraud and deception.

The only meat alternative that consumers can confidently choose is certified organic meat. Traditionally organic meat is reared on grass, or certified organic feed (free from any GM).

Fortunately for us we have an Organic Store in the middle of Ross, where organic and certified dairy products, meat and chicken are available.

Steve Jones, Lydbrook