Contaminated milk found at two dairy farms

Contaminated milk has been found on two farms in the North, it was revealed today.

Higher levels of potentially cancer-causing dioxins were discovered in dairy products, according to the Food Standards Agency (FSA). But officials said the risk to health from drinking the affected milk or eating products made from it is extremely low.

Last year pork was stripped from supermarket shelves and beef herds blocked from sale after livestock was found to have consumed tainted feed from a centre in the Republic of Ireland.

A spokesman for the FSA said: “Milk from two dairy farms in the North has been stopped from entering the food chain following test results that show dioxin levels above legal limits.

“Although breaching regulations, these levels of dioxin are much lower than those found in pork and beef affected by feed contamination last year.”

The milk was distributed in the North and also to the Republic of Ireland.

Produce from these farms is usually mixed with that from others before sale, the FSA added.

The spokesman said: “Any finished product on the market is likely to be diluted and well within the legal limits for dioxins.”

Contamination of the milk is likely to be from dioxin residues in the fat of animals that had previously eaten contaminated feed.

The FSA is not calling for withdrawal of any products from the shops but will continue to test and restrict the milk until it complies with the law.

Health effects from eating the affected products are only likely if people are exposed to relatively high levels of this contamination for long periods.

Farmers in the North are pressing for compensation from the Irish Government after being forced to hold their animals. They have been asked by the Northern Ireland Department of Agriculture to engage in a voluntary cull.

Pork producers were also disgruntled following the return of exported meat at the height of last December’s crisis.