Byrne
Questions DARD Minister on Burger Scare.
Joe
Byrne SDLP MLA and Agriculture spokesperson this week questioned the practices
of the food processing sector where horse DNA was found to be in some
beefburgers on sale in Britain and Ireland.
Speaking
today regarding the burger contamination issue, Mr Byrne said; “after phone
calls from concerned farmers, I have submitted an urgent question to the DARD
Minister Michelle O’Neill seeking an explanation on what DARD intend on doing
in relation to the marketing of beef burgers in the North of Ireland, which
could potentially contain traces of horse DNA.
I
believe that DARD must strenuously investigate this very important issue and
give particular attention to the function and operation of meat processing
plants, particularly in ensuring that high standards of food processing and
safety are adhered to.
Many
consumers and indeed the farming industry require reassurance by the Governing
authorities that the highest standards of food production and safety are
maintained when it comes to the marketing of food products in supermarkets.
The
Northern Ireland food industry is greatly dependant on its quality assurance
reputation. Therefore, consumers local and otherwise must be reassured.
The
farmers of this region work extremely hard to produce quality food produce,
which affords traceability of all their produce. Farmers are angry that meat
plants that often pay lower farmgate prices are not as vigilant as they should
be in their processing methods. This current beef saga is not related to
farming practices but related to food processing plants that may have used some
imported products in the production of their burgers.
Mr Byrne, Vice Chair of the Assembly DARD
Committee concluded by stating ‘Our £4 billion agri-food industry must not be
jeopardised through any poor practices of the food processing sector. Our
Northern Ireland Economy depends on exporting 80% of all food produced here.
Quality assurance must be the motto of all concerned’.
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