Anthrax-linked beef in nine EU states
The EU’s Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) has revealed the possible presence of Bacillus anthracis in beef bones for feed from Slovakia.
According to the Agra Europe news agency, the suspect beef is linked to anthrax-infected cattle in Slovakia, which were sold on to a slaughterhouse in Poland before being sold on to other parts of the EU.
The Dutch Food Safety Authority (NVWA) has already ordered a precautionary recall, while stressing the risk to consumers is very small.
The RASSF website (on October 10) warned of the possible presence of Bacillus anthracis — the bacterium which cause Anthrax — in beef shipped to Germany, France, Italy, Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, Portugal, Spain and Sweden.
Further details provided by the NVWA reveal that almost seven tonnes of suspect beef was distributed to 19 companies in the Netherlands, along with 26 in other member states.
Anthrax was confirmed on a farm in Slovakia in late September when potentially infected animals were again sent for slaughter in Poland.
On September 19, the infected Slovak cattle were slaughtered in Poland. On Sept 23, carcass parts arrived at a Dutch company.
On September 27, anthrax was confirmed on a farm in Slovakia, and authorities informed the World Organisation for Animal Health.
On October 8, Polish authorities informed the Dutch chief veterinary officer, and withdrawal of suspect meat from the Dutch market began on October 9.
