Acting in the consumer’s interests

Action will be taken to ensure that the highest food standards are maintained, says Simon Coveney

FINDINGS by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland of traces of non-beef DNA in some beef products was both disturbing and surprising because in Ireland, we pride ourselves on the quality of the food and beverages that are manufactured here and exported to more than 100 countries worldwide.

And even though this series of laboratory tests conducted for the FSAI generally involved trace or minute amounts of porcine or equine DNA, it is not acceptable to consumers that even such miniscule amounts should be present in these products.