Health risk of bone meal found in feed 'negligible'

THE risk to animal or human health from the discovery of a consignment of contaminated maize gluten feed imported from the US is negligible, the Department of Agriculture and Food said yesterday.

It confirmed that the consignment was found on Thursday last to contain traces of animal bone. 4671 tonnes of the maize gluten, discharged in Ringaskiddy, Co Cork on November 12, has been detained by the department.

A spokesman for the department said yesterday that 350 tonnes of the maize gluten were delivered to seven manufacturing premises for use in animal feed, but were recalled.