FSA issues food test protocol as gardaí visit plant

The Food Safety Authority of Ireland yesterday issued a new protocol for testing the authenticity of foods as gardaí turned their attention to a Tipperary meat plant as part of the investigation into the horsemeat saga.

Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney revealed that B&F Meats in Carrick-On-Suir, which is approved to debone beef and horsemeat, was found to have been sending some horsemeat to a customer in the Czech Republic, via a UK-based trader, using a abel in the Czech language which, when translated, refers to beef.

Mr Coveney said all operations at B&F had been suspended with immediate effect as officers from the department’s special investigations unit begin a probe.