Irish Pork Industry In Crisis After Emergency Recall

The Irish Government announced a surprise recall of Irish pork products on Saturday after testing by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) confirmed the presence of the dioxin toxin.

Responding to the shocking test results, all Irish pork products produced since September 1 have been ordered to be either recalled or destroyed.

According to a statement from the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, the FSAI required the food industry to recall from the market all Irish pork products produced from pigs slaughtered in Ireland.

This recall involves retailers, the hospitality sector and the Irish pig processing sector.

The FSAI also advised consumers, as a precautionary measure, not to consume Irish pork and bacon products at this time.

While Irish, British and other European health officials stressed that the contamination did not pose an immediate health risk, the announcements on Monday that Russia, Japan, South Korea and Singapore had banned Irish pork products threatens the industry which is said to be worth over $570 million to the economy each year

The contamination seems to have been introduced from contaminated animal feed produced by a provider in southeast Ireland.

The crisis escalated on Monday when Rosderra Irish Meat Group Ltd. closed its doors to the 850 employees at four of its plants, tellinging them that they should sign up for unemployment benefit.

SIPTU, the Irish labor union also warned that 6,000 jobs were at risk in the pork industry as layoffs were threatened across the country

Trouble In The North Too!

The Northern Agriculture Minister Michelle Gildernew confirmed this week that nine farms in the north have also been identified as having used the dioxin contaminated pig feed.

"To date nine farms in the north have been identified as having used the contaminated feed. We are supplying the FSA with all the necessary information to allow them to take an informed decision," she said.

Minister Gildernew spoke to the Northern Health Minister Michael McGimpsey to offer her advice and ensure he is fully informed of the information her department has received from counterparts in Dublin.

"I want to ensure the health Minister is fully briefed so that decisions can be taken and consumers can be kept informed. I am expect the FSA to provide information and advise to the public later today.

"I also spoke to DAFF Minister Brendan Smith early this morning and he updated me on the rationale for the decision taken by the Dublin authorities since this situation developed.

"There is obviously a large amount of north south movement of these products in Ireland and we need to carefully consider the way ahead," added Minister Gildernew.