The case of which came first: the Beef label, or the Horse label, on the meat product scandal cooking Europe’s meat industry medium rare. As I speak with one of the meat producers in Romania, the agriculture ministry and yes even the Prime Minister's office, I can not help, but think. What’s with all the fuss?

As a market entry consultant based in Eastern Europe, and a former employee of one of America’s largest beef packaging company, this case seemed to me, a major on minor things. Which one really did come first, and how come the EU didn’t put either (horse or cow meat label information) either dish on the table?

In international business and yes, even regular customary business transaction, the customer, would have to place an order. In this case Spanghero, Comigel and Findus would have to place an order among each other. While all three have yet to prove who placed the meat order and what it was they ordered, the media, got its carriage, pulling the horse, no pun intended.

The Romanian horse meat source already said that they labeled the horse meat correctly. Let’s make sure, were not looking at this case with blinders people. If the company where the horse meat originated from already said, they knew the label and the meat are for a horse meat order. Why in the world are we still beating a dead horse?

The burden of proof falls in the hands of the buyer, which ever one it is. Simple equation, on an equestrian order. Why haven’t the media and yes, governments produced the paper trail?

If the Romanian meat producer (abbatoir) did slaughter a horse and placed  a horse meat label on their product for a horse meat order, then produce, a customer order form or anything that says “We would like to place an order for an amount, quantity and type of meat” and have the abbatoir confirm the request? And with a proof on their end stating that they will process the x sum of horse meat.

Have the other intermediary from Cyprus and Holland also, produce documentation stating what it was they wanted to distribute and where are they planning to get the shipment.

Again, paper trail, the dilemma is the media forgot to speak with people that are in the export and import industry and have dealt with a cow load of cases where the documentation isn’t clear or no one wants to confess to an honest mistake.

Which ever it is, quit feeding people horse hay when we are looking for the red meaty substance.