Food firm introduces new origin of beef system

AN INITIATIVE to help restaurants to meet the new law on identifying the country of origin of beef on their menus was announced yesterday by Pallas Foods.

The company has 3,500 customers, a portfolio of over 3,000 products and employs 400 people in Ireland and Britain.

One of the country’s leading food service companies, it has a central warehouse in Newcastle West, Co Limerick and nine distribution-delivery centres countrywide.

It is the first food service company in Ireland to introduce a system which will assist restaurants to fulfil the requirements of the new law on identifying the country of origin of beef on their menus.

Pallas Foods said its system involves the use of a unique peel off label, together with enhanced invoicing procedures.

For restaurateurs, this will provide clear product information which will facilitate and enable accurate record-keeping.

This, in turn, will provide consumers with the information to which they are entitled, the company said. The country of origin of the beef that consumers are eating must now be declared on menus, advertisements or other presentations under the new regulations.

Food business operators must also record the country of origin of beef and maintain those records for inspection for at least two years.

Pallas Foods commercial director Tadhg Geary said its system is simple and easy to apply and will facilitate the food service industry in fulfilling its obligations under the new law.

“It provides them with the methodology to both maintain accurate records of beef provided by Pallas Foods and use the labelling provided to update their menus in accordance with the new law,” he said.

Pallas Foods said the initiative coincides with the company’s recent achievement in being awarded the internationally recognised food safety standard, the first food service distribution company in Ireland to receive the award.

Mr Geary said the company is demonstrating a firm commitment to ensuring that the highest standards of food safety are employed in its day-to-day business of delivering quality products to customers.

Pallas Foods, in conjunction with its beef partners, AIBP, has developed a premium beef brand, Steak House Select, specifically for the food service industry.

The company said the brand range is delivered daily throughout the Island of Ireland.

But this is only done after they fully mature to ensure the great taste and tenderness of Irish beef.