23rd January, 2013

Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers’ Association president Gabriel Gilmartin has described Burger King’s decision to change its meat supplier as “a worrying development, which emphasises the need for the industry to learn the lessons from the horse DNA controversy.”
 
“Irish meat processors have built up great businesses based on using fully traceable, grass-based Irish beef.  Tests have confirmed that the current problems do not originate from Irish farms but from imported trace ingredients.”  
 
“Therefore, it should be a priority for all concerned to win back the Burger King business and reassure all other consumers by using only 100% Irish ingredients until the recent issues with imported ingredients have been fully explained and understood.”