SuperValu and its supplier ‘big winners’ in pigmeat labelling issue

SuperValu and its supplier, Oliver Carty Ltd, have emerged as the big winners from this week’s pigmeat labelling debate.

IFA-funded tests conducted by bio-science firm IdentiGEN on 300 sample pork and bacon products found that 52% of Irish-branded items tested were produced using imported pigmeat. However, SuperValu items did not feature on the IFA’s “name and shame” list. That was because SuperValu had announced in August it was teaming up with the IFA and IdentiGEN to develop its DNA TraceBack system, a country of origin genetic test on its pigmeat products.

SuperValu had recognised potential weaknesses in paper-based traceability systems discovered post the pigmeat dioxin crisis, which showed the pigmeat sector had been vulnerable to co-mingling of Irish and non-Irish derived pork.