Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 February 2013
759. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health the date on which his Department was first informed by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland that positive tests showed the presence of horsemeat in beef burgers for human consumption; the actions he initiated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5109/13]
View answer760. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health the date on which his Department was first alerted that positive tests indicated that beef burgers for human consumption were adulterated with horsemeat; the action he took in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5110/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 759 and 760 together.
On 14th January 2013, the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) confirmed to my Department that test results from one beef burger sample taken from Silvercrest Foods was found to contain horsemeat. The FSAI advised that the level of horse DNA in that sample indicated that horsemeat accounted for approximately 29% relative to the beef content. My officials immediately confirmed with FSAI that this did not pose any risk to public health. My Department also verified that the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, which has lead responsibility for this matter, had also been informed of these results by FSAI.
