This week we have seen so much documented nationally and internationally about a number of household brands misrepresenting their beef products to the customer. So the question is how, and more importantly why, did horse end up in our beef lasagne? When costs are driven so low, do manufacturers feel they have no choice but to misrepresent their own products? And how many consumers actually question what they eat, where it comes from and what is actually in it? How often do you read the food labels for ingredients? Take Ribena for example, the first 2 ingredients on the label, indicating the highest proportions, are water and sugar. There is only 5% blackcurrant juice (from concentrate).

Misrepresentation is ever present. When you meet a potential employee how do you know what you are getting? As the employment market tightens, embellishing the truth on a CV about qualifications, length of service or even achievements in a role may also become more fiction than fact. The recruitment industry has been awake to this for a long time and we pride ourselves on knowing what to ask and when to ask it. It is amazing what a little bit of background checking can reveal. Organisations in their quest for attracting the very best talent may also be guilty from time to time in over-selling a role.

In a competitive market it is tempting to cut corners but ignorance certainly gets you nowhere…well it gives you a horse instead of a cow.

Ian Mael joined MDH Interim at the start of the year and now gets his meat from the butcher.