Ireland's meat scandal has moved from pork to beef, after tests on cattle that ate contaminated feed showed the presence of potentially dangerous dioxins. Officials revealed that almost 50 cattle herds across Ireland have been fed the contaminated feed which has sparked a scare over pork products. However, the levels of cancer-causing dioxins found in cattle are much lower than the levels recently detected in pigs.
Nine of the herds are in Northern Ireland, and the Food Standards Agency (FSA) said the farms were under restriction, so none of the animals would be processed. The FSA said the beef on sale in Northern Ireland "was entirely safe." Stormont Health Minister Michael McGimpsey said the Northern Ireland herds included a dairy farm. He said, "With regard to dairy products, one farm has been identified as having fed contaminated feed to dairy cattle. All milk from this farm has been prevented from entering the food chain."
Agriculture Minister Michelle Gildernew said the cattle herds which received the contaminated feed had been restricted and could not enter the food chain. Mrs Gildernew insisted the temporary withdrawal of Northern Ireland pork from shops was not an over-reaction, commenting, "We did act prudently and in a measured fashion in order to ensure consumer confidence and in order to ensure the viability and sustainability of our farming industry, which is a very important industry to the economy here and one we want to protect."
In the Republic of Ireland, tests on beef herds which ate contaminated animal feed also came back positive but officials said there was no risk to public health. Minister for Agriculture, Brendan Smith told a press conference in Dublin that out of 11 herds tested, three were, "Technically non-compliant, but not at a level which gave any public health concerns."
