15th January, 2013
ICSA president Gabriel Gilmartin has said that he is “very concerned at the FSAI statement that horse DNA was detected in certain products including beef burgers produced by Liffey Meats and Silvercrest Foods.”
“It is too early to say how this has come about. It has to be stressed that there is no safety issue but it is clearly unacceptable if there is any doubt about the provenance or the content of a beef burger. There is some suggestion from the FSAI that DNA traces emanate from raw materials imported from other EU countries.
It would be totally outrageous if meat factories have tried to cut corners rather than using 100% Irish beef in their products.
“Farmers will feel that the Department of Agriculture needs to spend more time inspecting and monitoring processors and less time on farms. ICSA urges Minister Coveney to instigate a full investigation immediately.”
