The chief executive of the Iceland supermarket chain has apologised to the leader of York City Council for causing offence in blaming local authorities for the horsemeat scandal.

Last month Iceland supremo Malcolm Walker told the BBC's Andrew Marr programme the ‘problem really lies' with local authorities buying cheap food through school and other catering contracts.

‘If we're going to blame somebody, let's start with local authorities, because there's a whole side to this industry which is invisible. That's the catering industry,' Mr Walker said on 17 February.

But in a letter dated three days after the interview on 20 February, tweeted to The MJ by York leader Cllr James Alexander, the supermarket boss claimed the issue was a ‘manufactured crisis' and ‘not a food safety issue'.

‘I did not intend to denigrate the good work of responsible local authorities or of school dinner ladies in particular,' wrote Mr Walker by way of apology.

However, Mr Walker said he has first hand experience of the pressures faced tendering for public sector contracts, which he said were invariably fixed on the basis of price alone.

‘I think it's only right that, when supermarkets are facing so much criticism, some light should also be shone on the public sector (including central government, NHS trusts a well as local authorities) and on the catering industry as a whole,' Walker added.

When contacted by The MJ, Cllr Alexander said he ‘appreciated the apology from Iceland the chief for his comments against councils over the horsemeat scandal'.