The director of a pet food processing company, his business and three other men have been convicted for diverting meat unfit for human consumption back into the human food chain.
The ruling follows an investigation by officers from Southwark Council who found 1.9 tonnes of Category 3 animal by-products – including whole and cut chickens, lamb’s testicles and out-of-date beef burgers – in an illegal meat-cutting plant in Walworth, South London.
Officers worked with the Food Standard Agency’s National Food Crime Unit (NFCU) to trace the animal by-products back to legitimate food business operators who confirmed these meat products had been sent to Fears Animal Byproducts in Somerset for manufacture into pet foods or for safe disposal.
Meat classified as an animal by-product, for food safety reasons can never be placed back into the human food chain. Further investigations found evidence that demonstrated the criminal relationships between the four accused men: Anthony Fear, sole director of Fears Animal Byproducts, Mark Hooper, Azar Irshad and Ali Afzal.
All men except Anthony Fear entered guilty pleas for their involvement in serious food crimes, including conspiracy to defraud by placing unfit food on the market and failure to comply with food safety & hygiene regulations relating to unapproved premises.
Sole director Anthony Fear and his business were found unanimously guilty of the offence of conspiracy to defraud by placing unfit food when an 11-week trial came to a close on 27th March 2025.
Councillor Natasha Ennin, cabinet member for community safety and neighbourhoods, Southwark Council, said: “These violations highlight the blatant disregard for food safety laws that protect public health – all for profit. Consumers who unknowingly purchase and consume these products are exposed to potential health hazards.
“Together with the NFCU, our officers worked relentlessly to uncover the truth and ensure those responsible are made to pay for their crimes. We hope sentencing reflects the gravity of the crimes committed.”
