Study claims BSE risk 220 times higher in Ireland

The Food Safety Authority of Ireland has been asked today by FG health spokesman, Gay Mitchell TD, to independently assess a study published by the British Food Standards Agency

The study claims the risk of eating BSE contaminated meat is about 220 times greater in Ireland than in Britain.

The reason the British study claims a greater incidence of BSE here is that

more infected cattle have been slaughtered in Ireland and rules to prevent

older animals entering the food chain were only applied here last year.

Mr Mitchell said these claims are a further reason why responsibility for food should be divorced from the Department of Agriculture.

"The Department is greatly influenced by the natural concerns of farmers, and responsibility for food issues should be distributed between the Minister with responsibility for Consumer Affairs and the Department of Health," Mr Mitchell said.