This time it is the food industry’s turn to go under the spotlight for contamination failures after the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) revealed horse and pig DNA had been found in beefburgers on sale in some mainstream supermarkets. The findings were the result of a targeted study of meat products in retail outlets in Ireland, part of an ongoing FSAI policy checking food authenticity.
Silvercrest Foods and Dalepak Hambleton, both part of ABP Food Group, supplied the contaminated beefburgers and a full withdrawal has been implemented. In all but one of the cases, the levels of horse and pig DNA were extremely low. In one case, however, the level of horse meat accounted for 29% of the meat content.
The source is thought likely to be from a supplier of ground beef protein (used as a filler in lower-quality burgers) but deliberate adulteration somewhere else along the supply chain has not yet been ruled out.
As we go to press ABP is conducting its own investigation and tests. The industry does not routinely DNA test meat products, but ABP says that as a result of this incident it will implement a new regime that will include DNA analysis. The UK FSA has also said it will continue monitoring and so if any problems exist, they will be identified.
Such tests are very sensitive and some reports suggest that, were horse or pig meat processed on adjacent production lines, or even on subsequent days, there could be sufficient carryover, or aerosol spread, of DNA to result in trace contamination of beef products. This will inevitably mean greater cleandown and hygiene regimes and greater testing at a cost to the industry.
