December 9, 2008

Northern Irish pigs free from contamination

Pigs in Northern Ireland have not consumed feed contaminated with dioxins, the Food Standards Agency reported.

The agency believed no pigs in Northern Ireland consumed the tainted feed but advised retailers and caterers to temporarily remove Irish products from the market shelves.

The Food Standards Agency said adverse health effects are likely if people are exposed to relatively high levels of this contaminant for long periods.

Although the risk is said to be low, people are advised not to eat any Irish pork as dioxins can have a devastating effect on human health.

Dr Andrew Wadge, director of food safety, said they are ensuring that pork from affected farms are removed from shops.

He adviced consumers to either ask for a refund or return of the product if they are unsure of their purchase.

In Northern Ireland, 26,000 pigs are processed every week and major firms halted slaughtering on Monday and a backlog is building up on farms due to the contamination.

Twelve EU countries and nine non-EU countries have been affected by the contamination scandal.