Caterers desert Féile assured food scheme

THE Féile Bia scheme for premises which undertake to serve quality assured foods may be scrapped, says IFA national livestock committee chairman John Bryan.

He told a meeting of Limerick IFA that participation has dropped to about 700 hotels, restaurants, pubs and workplaces, putting the scheme in serious jeopardy.

A review is underway, and Mr Bryan said the level of participation can no longer justify the cost of Féile Bia. “A hard decision on its future has to be made,” he said. With an annual budget of €0.75m, Féile Bia is operated by Bord Bia. It never reached its full potential in terms of participation, which is believed to have peaked at 1,500, but eroded quickly in the past year. “Restaurants and hotels won’t sign up to serving only Irish chicken and pork,” said Mr Bryan, who is a member of Bord Bia’s meat and livestock board.