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EU blames recycled food plant for Irish pork contamination
Brussels (AFP) Dec 9, 2008 The European Commission said Tuesday that the dioxin contamination of Irish pork which has caused a health scare and industry losses originated at a food waste recycling plant. Ireland sounded the alarm on Saturday, recalling all pork products made since September 1 after dioxins, which in high doses can cause cancer, were found in slaughtered pigs thought to have eaten tainted feed. Commission spokeswoman Nina Papadoulaki said the contaminated animal feed had been distributed to nine farms in Northern Ireland as well as 10 pig farms and 38 cattle farms in the Republic of Ireland. "The contamination was confirmed to be linked to a company recycling bakery waste," used in animal feed, she said. The exact method of contamination has not been discovered, she added. Irish officials and police have been investigating a plant run by Millstream Power Recycling Limited near Fenagh, County Carlow, in southwest Ireland. A firm spokesman said what was under investigation was oil used in machinery for drying the recycled bread products and dough which are ingredients in the feed. The affected Irish pork farms have been taken out of food production, and Brussels was awaiting information on Tuesday about actions taken at the cattle farms as well as the affected farms in Northern Ireland, which is part of Britain. The commission spokeswoman said later that the Irish authorities had informed Brussels of all measures taken at the cattle farms involved, including taking infected animals out of the food chain and recalling all food products from those herds. According to the Irish authorities, animals in only three herds have so far been found with dioxin levels above proposed legislative limits. "The European Commission is satisfied with the actions which the Irish have taken," she said. British authorities also contacted the commission on Tuesday, confirming that "the nine farms in Northern Ireland are blocked," she added. Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen said Tuesday that his country will seek EU cash to help bail out its meat industry after the cancer-linked pork scare added to its recession woes. However, commission spokesman for agriculture issues Michael Mann said there was "no legal basis" for such a pay out. He added that national state aid could be a possibility. "What Ireland could do is pay each farmer up to 7,500 euros (9,700 dollars) over a three-year period or pay up to 100 percent compensation for affected farmers if they can establish that it is an exceptional occurrence." Share This Article With Planet Earth
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