Confusion cost pork producer tens of thousands

A pork producer revealed today how he lost tens of thousands of pounds because of public confusion over the potential crisis in the North.

Hugh Hamill from Stevenson and Co Ltd, Co Antrim, lost a day and a half’s work despite the official all-clear from contaminated animal feed.

The food authorities have said none of the tainted animal food was consumed by pigs in the North but retailers were urged by North Health Minister Michael McGimpsey to strip their shelves and store meat last night as a precautionary measure.

Managing director Mr Hamill said: “There was no problem whatsoever with Northern Irish pork, it was 100% according to the Food Standards Agency (FSA) and the Department for Agriculture but we had product returned to us and people across the water (England) didn’t want pork.

“It is a very difficult time but we are talking about tens of thousands of pounds on wages alone spent while there was no work for one and a half days.

“It is difficult in the present circumstances when other costs are so high. The pig meat industry has gone through a difficult period.”

The FSA has said the North's pork industry could resume operations after investigations into whether dioxins were present in meat.

The agency said it was confident no pigs had been fed contaminated feed.

There had been widespread concern across the UK, with major supermarket chains moving to drop Irish pork supplies.

A total of 11 North premises processed pork from Ireland and the meat was put on sale in the North.

Pork products from Ireland were recalled over fears that pig feed at an animal meal plant was tainted with oil containing potentially harmful dioxins.

All 36 Tesco stores are re-stocking their shelves with products, sourced from the North.

Meanwhile, farmers in the North said the risk to the beef industry from contaminated feed is negligible.

The Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU) moved to reassure consumers following a small number of positive results in Ireland.

A spokesman said: “The risk is really negligible to the beef industry.”

Eight cattle herds were fed on potentially dangerous material. The Food Standards Agency (FSA) said farms were under restriction, so no animals would be processed.

The UFU added: “We hope the beef industry can continue to trade as normal.”

The spokesman said cattle consumed much smaller quantities of feed so the danger was much lower than in pigs.