LETTER: Organic health

Sir: Animal welfarists have long been campaigning for improved conditions in our slaughterhouses. Amongst other things they have urged that slaughtermen should be better trained and paid as skilled workers. On no account should they be employed on piece-rates with all the opportunities to "cut corners" that such employment presents.

If the Government had taken notice they would have engaged sufficient inspectors to implement such improvements. Then, perhaps, they would also have been alerted to other corner-cutting activities such as those concerning safety and hygiene.

Joan Haggard

Harpenden, Hertfordshire