‘The crisis could not have come at a worse time for producers’

THE discovery of deadly dioxins in animal feed and the recall of all pork products made in Ireland was the nightmare scenario the food industry here hoped would never happen.

Consumer fears about the impact on their health and wellbeing of the food they eat can cripple markets that were painstakingly developed at home and abroad over many years.

However, the Government is hopeful consumer health concerns can be quickly allayed and that public confidence in Irish pig meat can be restored because of the quick actions it has taken in dealing with the crisis.