Irish beef hit by double standard
Irish consumers are led to believe that the beef served in hotels and restaurants is all quality Irish produce. Sadly, this is not so.
Around 17,000 tons of boneless beef was imported last year from non-EU countries, mostly in South America.
This beef is not labelled as such and is sold mostly to the hotel and catering industry and passed off to unsuspecting consumers as Irish produce.
None of thestandards set for EU producers applies to this beef. Antibiotics and animal remedies that have been banned in the EU for over ten years are freely used in South America.
There are a lot of unanswered questions. Is meat and bone meal used in the feed?
Is the beef from animals over 30 months and, if so, is it tested for BSE?
Beef can be produced very cheaply if there’s no traceability and wages are at Third World levels.
While weare trying to encourage more tourists to visit Ireland for its hospitality, scenery and quality food, they are not told that the beef they are eating is in many cases non-EU.
The Minister for Agriculture and Food has failed clearly to ensure the labelling of non-EU meat and, as a result, it is big business: importers, distributors and hotels are making hugh profits from cheap imported product.
Who is the minister protecting here?
Chris Hayes,
Downeen,
Rosscarbery,
Co Cork
