Update on beef from Northern Ireland

Update on beef from Northern Ireland

The Food Standards Agency is today advising consumers not to be concerned about eating beef from Northern Ireland. Dioxin results from three Northern Irish herds affected by contaminated feed have been received, they exceed permitted limits but the risk to public health remains very low. Any cattle and beef that have been withheld since Tuesday 9 December will not enter the food chain.

This action mirrors the approach of the Republic of Ireland, which announced the trade withdrawal of some meat from the food chain on Friday 19 December, following test results showing dioxin levels above permitted limits present in meat.

The results of dioxin tests for the remaining five herds are still awaited. In the meantime, the cattle and meat from these animals will continue to be held on the relevant farms and at meat processing plants.

Meat processors have informed the Agency that there is no longer any affected meat in the shops, although some may have reached consumers before the notification of this incident. People should not worry as the risk to health from this incident is very low and retailers are not required to take any action to withdraw or recall products. The actual number of cattle farms affected represents less than 0.03% of the total number of cattle farms in Northern Ireland.

Dioxins are chemicals that get into food from the environment and are associated with a range of health effects when there is a long term exposure to them at relatively high levels.

The UK will continue to work with local authorities, the wider enforcement community and European Union member states to protect UK consumers.