Sharp rise in animal residues

UNWANTED residues in Irish food of animal origin increased more than six-fold in 2008, and about three-fold if dioxin in pigmeat is not included.

Tests carried out by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland found banned substances such as growth-promoting hormones, approved veterinary medicines and animal feed additives, or environmental contaminants in 165 of the 31,512 samples tested. Samples were sourced from animals directly and from produce on farms and in primary processing and packing plants.

Some samples were taken as a result of suspicion by official inspectors of the presence of illegal residues. Some 90, or 55%, of the 165 positive results resulted from the dioxin incident and associated follow-up sampling.