17/09/2010 - Food for animals served in zoo cafe
A zoo in Bedfordshire has admitted that its cafe cooked and served vegetables donated to feed animals.
Fresh food donated to the Woburn Safari Park came from a nearby supermarket which had extra supplies delivered by accident.
Some of the vegetables, mainly potatoes and onions, that could not be used as animal feed, were utilised in the kitchen so they would not go waste, the zoo said.
Council officials looked into last year's incident after a complaint was filed. The park's managers have now been asked to review their procedures and not to let such incidents happen in the future.
However, the zoo insisted that it did not risk food safety in any way and that the vegetables were always meant for human consumption.
A spokesman said: "In September 2009, Woburn Safari Park received a one-off delivery of surplus fresh vegetables from a company due to a stock overbooking.
"The produce, always intended for human consumption, was within its sell-by dates so common sense was applied, allowing the kitchen to use those vegetables that did not suit the dietary requirements of the animals (specifically potatoes and onions) to avoid waste.
"At no point was there a risk to food safety through cross-contamination."
Copyright © Press Association 2010
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