Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Shut/Chris2766

Dept: Food investigations 'dealt with on case-by-case basis'

The FSAI and Department of Agriculture deal with such investigations on a case-by-case basis, it was confirmed today.

THE INVESTIGATION INTO the horse DNA found in burgers sold in Irish supermarkets was dealt with on an individual basis, the FSAI and Department of Agriculture confirmed today.

A Department of Agriculture spokesperson told TheJournal.ie that communication between the FSAI and the Department over such food investigations is “handled on a case-by-case basis”.

Timeline

It emerged yesterday that Minister for Agriculture, Simon Coveney, was informed about the results of tests on the burgers on Monday 14 January, and that the FSAI received results of German laboratory tests on Friday 11 January.

The Department of Agriculture was requested by the FSAI on 21 December 2012 to take samples of ingredients at the two processing plants of concern.

The testing began in mid-November when the first samples were taken by the FSAI and sent for analysis to a private laboratory. Further samples were taken at retail level again December and analysed in the private laboratory in Ireland, and following on from this, all of the initial samples which tested positive were sent for analysis in late December to a lab in Germany.

This was to confirm the accuracy of the initial tests.

When the Department was informed about the results on 14 January, it immediately began a full scale investigation, said Minister Coveney.

An FSAI spokesperson told TheJournal.ie that the association carries out tests on food on a regular basis, and that they would flag any issues with the Department of Agriculture or the HSE, or whatever appropriate group they need to inform. The procedure would depend on the initial results they get.

They carried out a number of tests on the beef burgers to ensure that that the initial results were correct and hadn’t been contaminated in a lab, she said.

Questions

Today in the Dáil during Leaders’ Questions, Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin questioned Minister Brendan Howlin on the issue, asking for the second day in a row why there was a delay between the initial test results being received and Minister Coveney being informed about the presence of horse and pig DNA in the beef products.

He asked Minister Howlin if he thought this was “acceptable”, particularly given that department officials were informed by the FSAI before the Minister.

Minister Martin also noted that 20,000 horses were slaughtered last year in Ireland, and asked if the Government would commit to establishing a traceability regime.

Minister Howlin said that he believes Ireland has a high standard of oversight of food production, “the best, I would say, in the world”. He reiterated that this is not a public health issue and said it it is an issue that doesn’t relate to food safety, but relates to food standards.

He noted that the results of the most recent testing will be available this afternoon. “It is important that we approach this entire episode in a completely open and transparent way.”

Read: Company behind the horse burgers scandal apologises>

Read: Horse and pig DNA found in supermarket beef burgers>

Read: Gilmore clarifies when government found out about ‘horse burgers’>

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Close
13 Comments
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tony Stamper
    Favourite Tony Stamper
    Report
    Sep 7th 2011, 12:13 PM

    Merkel – Germany and France wanted the Euro, even though economist after economist pointed out the massive flaws in it, the fatal contradictions, benefited massively from replacing the DM with a weaker currency, leading to a massive export boon for your state.

    Your country made it, ignored the economic reality, and now you aren’t willing to accept responsibility for the mess that was always inevitable. You are playing internal German political games to benefit yourself, and taking economic decisions at an EU level, to benefit Germany alone.

    European Union – My ass!

    20
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Sean McGrath
    Favourite Sean McGrath
    Report
    Sep 7th 2011, 12:31 PM

    Tony, you are definitely right but its up to us to play the same game which we were trying to do but we got way to far ahead of ourselves, prices went too high on everything, wages went too high, everything went too high. I can remember national news celebrating that we were spending a billion a week a few yrs ago. Can’t blame ze Germans for that or the house prices….

    One thing we can take from this debacle is that the ECB is in Frankfurt for a reason and they are only looking out for Germany and France so we need to watch our own back from now on and play a smarter game.

    20
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Neil
    Favourite Neil
    Report
    Sep 7th 2011, 3:21 PM

    @tony

    While there’s nothing more Irish than blaming others for our problems, it’s not really Germanys fault we are in the mess we are in. And I can understand German taxpayers not wanting to bailout countries like Ireland. The Finns hate that as well.

    Finland is a small country as well, and they have the euro, and they didn’t build up a huge governement expenditure on a property bubble.

    4
    See 1 more reply ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Gis Bayertz
    Favourite Gis Bayertz
    Report
    Sep 7th 2011, 6:23 PM

    Spot on, Tony

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Sean O'Keeffe
    Favourite Sean O'Keeffe
    Report
    Sep 7th 2011, 2:00 PM

    In the early eighteenth century, to develop its new colonies France issued a fiat currency under the guidance of the Scot, John Law. This currency was shortlived and imploded with the Mississippi bubble.
    While many people lost heavily, one canny Irishman, Richard Cantilion, pulled out of the project before its demise.
    Like Cantillon, Ireland would be well advised to consider what its best options are and not leave it too late.
    http://mises.org/daily/4709

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Sean O'Keeffe
    Favourite Sean O'Keeffe
    Report
    Sep 7th 2011, 2:07 PM

    In the early Eighteenth century, to develop its colonies France issued a fiat currency under the guidance of Scot, John Law. This currency was shortlived and implode with the bust of the Mississippi bubble.
    Many people lost heavily. However, one canny Irishman, Richard Cantillon, who had been heavily involved withdrew before the project collapsed.
    Like Cantillon, Ireland would be well advised to see where his fiat currency project is going and not leave it too late to leave.
    http://mises.org/daily/4709

    2
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds