Department verify beef in question was Irish
It was responding to an Irish Farmers Journal (IFJ) report that the origin of a sample of beef served at the function in Agriculture House, Dublin, had proven in an independent test to be non-European, most likely Brazilian.
But the Department said the supplier of the beef for the event had provided documentary evidence that it was “derived from cattle born, bred and slaughtered in the Republic of Ireland”.
It said it was satisfied it had done everything possible to verify that the beef in question was Irish.
The IFJ yesterday published a survey of the origin of beef used by a cross section of the Irish catering industry. Out of 24 samples, five proved to be of foreign, non-European origin.
Samples were taken at 22 hotels, the sheep shearing championships at Wexford and a Department of Agriculture and Food function attended by Minister Joe Walsh and Ministers of State Noel Treacy and Liam Aylward.
It reported that the samples were DNA tested by the IdentiGEN laboratory based at Trinity College, Dublin, and it was no surprise there were some positive results.
The IFJ stated the big shock came when it emerged the beef served at the Department function was neither Irish nor European and most likely Brazilian.
It also reported that two establishments found to be serving foreign beef are signed up to Feile Bia, a quality assurance scheme run by Bord Bia.
A spokesperson for Bord Bia said Feile Bia is a voluntary scheme. It was pleased the survey indicated a high level of compliance but it was concerned that two of the surveyed establishments were deemed not to be serving Irish beef.
Stressing that compliance is at the top of Bord Bia's agenda, she said these two restaurants have yet to be audited.
