Without a trace

FOR years now I have been assured by people involved in selling food in restaurants and hotels that full traceability existed under the guise of the ‘farm-to-fork’ system. Every time I questioned this I was asked if I wanted to see the paper trail that ensured compliance.

In view of this, I’m rather confused as to the reaction, or perhaps over-reaction, of the authorities in relation to a blanket removal of all pork products from the market.

Surely, if full traceability exists, it should have been quite straight-forward to isolate the ‘infected’ pork products rather than this blanket ban with its obvious economic consequences. Is there something else behind all of this? Stranger than fiction to my mind.