Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 7 Dec 1999

Vol. 512 No. 3

Written Answers - Food Labelling.

Frances Fitzgerald

Question:

141 Ms Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the investigation, if any, he is conducting on the way in which tins labelled beef in juice, containing 98% pork, manufactured by a company (details supplied) in 1997 and which carried an approval stamp from his Department, were a suitable product for export to Russia in view of the fact they damaged the country's name as a source of good quality food; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25886/99]

Frances Fitzgerald

Question:

142 Ms Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the investigation, if any, he is conducting on whether tins labelled beef in juice, containing 98% pork and carrying an approval stamp from his Department, being two years past their sell-by date and found on sale in Clondalkin in January 1999, caused a risk to public health, particularly in regard to the vacuum method of meat extraction used; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25887/99]

Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development (Mr. Walsh)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 141 and 142 together.

This matter was brought to public attention recently when canned meats were located in Clondalkin, County Dublin with a best before date of end February 1997 stamped on them. They were being sold as pet food, even though such designation did not appear on the label.

The information available to my Department indicates that the company in question produced different products using different recipes intended for export to the Russian market. The cans carrying an expiry date beyond the sell-by date were surplus product produced during the years 1993 to 1996, which had been stored by the company. They were then sold off as pet food. The company, when contacted about the incident, withdrew the product from sale.

The product in question was produced in an approved cannery plant and the inspections carried out by my Department at the plant during the course of production are aimed at ensuring that the product is fit for human consumption under the relevant food safety legislation. As regards the content of the cans, samples were analysed by the State laboratory at the request of my Department. The analysis shows that the cans contain a total meat content of 46.6% by weight. The laboratory has indicated that because of the method of preparation of this product which involves high pressure and temperature treatment it is not possible for it to determine which type of meat is predominant nor can it reliably determine the percentage meat by species in this cooked product.

The product also included MRM, mechanically recovered meat, which is residual meat recovered from bones of slaughtered animals and poultry. MRM has been permitted for use in human food under EU and national legislation for many years. This process is subject to specific public health requirements. In particular, specific regulations were introduced in 1996 to prevent the inclusion in MRM of specified bovine tissues considered as having a risk of harbouring BSE infectivity in affected cattle.

The labelling of products and issues relating to retail sale are primarily matters for the Office of the Director of Consumer Affairs and for the appropriate health board.