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Irish pork products recall
Interesting issue here in Ireland. Good example of a food safety authority using the "sledgehammer" approach. Apparently the traceability of food products is not assisting the FSAI to focus in on the suppliers that may be affected - Irish people are being advised to throw out all Irish pork products that they have in their fridges or freezers and retailers/caterers etc. are having to clear their shelves.
http://www.fsai.ie/news/press/pr_08/pr20081206.asp
Recall of Irish Pork and Bacon Product
06 December 2008
The Government today announced that laboratory results of animal feed and pork fat samples obtained this afternoon by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) confirmed the presence of dioxins.
Consequently, the FSAI is requiring the food industry to recall from the market all Irish pork products produced from pigs slaughtered in Ireland.
This recall involves retailers, the hospitality sector and the Irish pig processing sector. Preliminary evidence indicates that the contamination problem is likely to have started in September 2008.
The FSAI is advising consumers, as a precautionary measure, not to consume Irish pork and bacon products at this time. Investigations involving the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (DAFF) and the FSAI are continuing to determine the extent of the contamination and to identify the processors and products involved.
The FSAI and DAFF will provide updates as information becomes available.
-ENDS-
Note for Editors
Dioxins are environmental contaminants that may be formed during combustion processes and may be present in industrial wastes. It is illegal for dioxins at certain levels to be in food products.
Last updated: 06/12/2008
http://www.fsai.ie/news/press/pr_08/pr20081206.asp
Recall of Irish Pork and Bacon Product
06 December 2008
The Government today announced that laboratory results of animal feed and pork fat samples obtained this afternoon by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) confirmed the presence of dioxins.
Consequently, the FSAI is requiring the food industry to recall from the market all Irish pork products produced from pigs slaughtered in Ireland.
This recall involves retailers, the hospitality sector and the Irish pig processing sector. Preliminary evidence indicates that the contamination problem is likely to have started in September 2008.
The FSAI is advising consumers, as a precautionary measure, not to consume Irish pork and bacon products at this time. Investigations involving the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (DAFF) and the FSAI are continuing to determine the extent of the contamination and to identify the processors and products involved.
The FSAI and DAFF will provide updates as information becomes available.
-ENDS-
Note for Editors
Dioxins are environmental contaminants that may be formed during combustion processes and may be present in industrial wastes. It is illegal for dioxins at certain levels to be in food products.
Last updated: 06/12/2008
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Tracey on -
There is more information coming out as the day goes on. Apparently the levels are hundreds of times higher than the normal allowable limit for food (which has been set as the lowest achievable level), but the FSAI are not giving details (or the media is not passing on the details).
The Government are saying "don't worry about the pork that you ate yesterday or over the past few months, but destroy all pork that is in your home just now" - a bit confusing for most people!
The contamination appears to be from the packaging of animal food.
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