Latest Information for Food Industry:

Food Safety Authority of Ireland information including New Product rules, Compensation Claims for affected product and new Bord Bia labeling can be found from this link http://www.fsai.ie/industry/hottopics/industry_topics_dioxins_PCBs_info.pdf;

- Latest Press Releases

- Statement from the National Consumer Agency

- Alert Notification: 2008.09 - Recall of Irish Pork and Bacon Products

- Information Note on Dioxins

The Food Standards Agency has now published a list of the meat processors in the Republic of Ireland affected by the pork contaminated with dioxins and also meat companies in England that have received affected pork products. Whilst the Food Standards Agency continues to investigate contaminated pork products from Ireland it is advising consumers not to eat pork or pork products which are labelled as being from the Irish Republic or Northern Ireland. The EU states that all importers of Irish pork should ensure their current stocks are removed from sale and discarded, destroyed or returned to Ireland. An EU-wide ban on future Irish pork shipments is seen by the authorities as unnecessary.

The Food Standard Agency has identified five processing establishments in the Republic of Ireland that have received the contaminated pork and supplied it to premises in the UK. In addition, 12 processing establishments in Northern Ireland have been identified as potentially receiving contaminated pork from the Republic of Ireland and investigations are ongoing by district councils with responsibility with these establishments. The FSA has confirmed that no pigs in Northern Ireland have been fed the contaminated feed.

Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) claimed that consumers would have to have eaten pork from the affected farms for up to 40 years before noticing any ill health. But stringent measures have nonetheless been put in place and up to 100,000 pigs may have to be slaughtered.

Britain which receives 40% of Irish Pork exports has recalled all Irish Pork from its supermarket shelves and North Ireland has taken the same precaution. Almost 10% of pork imported into Britain comes from the Republic of Ireland. Contaminated pork and pork products were shipped to 12 European Union countries and nine non-EU countries and territories (Guardian).

Tesco's supermarket chain said it had no plans to remove brands of Irish ham under its label. A spokesman has stated its ham was not affected and that it does not come from farms linked to the dioxin contamination. Sainsbury's and Asda both have published lists of up to 100 items that were being withdrawn from sale.

Slaughtered pigs from the Republic of Ireland were found, initially, to have traces of polychlorinated biphenyls, but subsequent test results revealed that the problem was more serious and the contaminant was dioxin. The investigation found that the pork contained levels of 80 to 200 times above the safety limit. The source of the contamination is thought to be linked to an animal feed supplied by Millstream Power Recycling Ltd, County Carlow which has been tainted with industrial oil.

The FSAI chief toxicology specialist Rodney Evens is quoted as saying that the oil was the most probable cause of the contamination and that is was possibly diesel oil at the plant. Dioxins are environmental contaminants that may be formed during combustion processes and may be present in industrial wastes. There is no immediate risk to the public health from short term exposure. However there are health concerns with associated long term exposure in high levels. Dioxins have been shown to cause a wide range of effects in certain animals, including cancer and damage to the immune and reproductive systems, although it appears that people may be less sensitive (Food Standard Agency )

The FSAI have also confirmed that contaminated feed has been fed to some cattle in Ireland. According to Brendan Smith, the Irish Agriculture Minister following tests on 11 herds, three Irish beef farms have been infected, with the possibility that 34 might also have been contaminated. The levels of dioxins found in the beef were two to three times above safe limits compared to 200 times for the pig meat. Government officials said that 45 cattle herds had been placed under restriction, 34 were undergoing tests and the eight herds given the all-clear would go back into the food chain but there was no need for a recall.

The Food Standards Agency states that because of the differences in the digestive system of cows and pigs, the risk of contamination in beef was much lower than in relation to pork, although it confirmed that 9 farms in Northern Ireland also have affected cattle. Stock and carcasses from affected herds are currently being held and not allowed to enter the food chain as a precautionary measure. Dr Andrew Wadge, FSA Chief Scientist, noted the risk to UK consumers remains very low and because of this they are taking a proportionate approach and products are not being removed from the shelves.

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has also issued a statement on dioxins in Irish Pork.