Brazilian beef containing banned hormones recalled in Ireland
Irish Farmers’ Association president Francie Gorman said this confirmation of the banned hormones infiltrating the Irish food system should be a wake-up call for the Irish Government.
Brazilian beef containing banned hormones has officially been recalled by the Food Safety Authority.
It was confirmed this week that beef containing banned hormones had accessed the Irish food chain and was now subject to a recall. The substances are not permitted in Irish or European farming due to health and safety concerns attached to them.
Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) president Francie Gorman said this confirmation of the banned hormones infiltrating the Irish food system should be a wake-up call for the Irish Government.
“This shows that the undertaking from Brazil about the processes they have in place is completely flawed and wholly ineffective,” he said.
Mr Gorman insisted a full report of the incident should be published for the public before a decision on the Mercosur deal is made, which is being voted on on January 9.
“This EU audit, which uncovered these hormones, is getting worse and worse, with more EU countries being embroiled. The EU must publish the full details of this immediately and before there is any vote on the Mercosur deal.
“In 2024, another EU audit found the Brazilian system to stop hormones entering the EU food chain could not be relied upon. We were told by the EU that Brazil implemented an action plan to address this. Yet, hormones have now entered the EU and Irish food chain. This has to be a red line for the Irish Government on Mercosur.”
Mr Gorman added there was a need for full disclosure, questioning whether “Brazil is misleading the EU or are the EU misleading their citizens.”
