Pigmeat crisis leads to loss of trust in monitors

UNLIKE every other problem it has had to face in recent times, the Government can’t blame the credit crunch or the international economic downturn for the disaster caused by dioxin-contaminated animal feed.

However, like the credit crunch and the international economic downturn, this disaster also appears to be a case of regulatory failure.

How can it be that after the experience of BSE in Britain and dioxin-contaminated animal feed in Belgium, every single batch of animal feed was not tested before it left the factory and was fed to the animals?

How can it be that the animal feed wasn’t constantly tested while it was being produced?

Was it to save a few euro?

How can it be that, instead of giving pigs wholesome feed, apparently they were given old bread mashed up with goodness-knows-what?

By allowing the sale of pigmeat that is contaminated by one of the most dangerous chemicals known to man, the Government at the very least has allowed a situation to arise that could present a possible serious risk to the health of people here and abroad. And the survival of a whole industry, along with all the jobs associated with it, also has been put at risk. No matter how much the Government and others try to play down the possible threat to health and promise that everything will be back to normal in a few days, it will be very difficult to get people to buy pork again in the near future, especially consumers in countries to which we export food products.

Who can trust the Government or any State agency with ensuring we have safe, healthy, nutritious food until those responsible for this current crisis are removed and more competent people put in their place.

Brian Abbott

Glencairn

Bishopstown Road

Cork