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| Some brands of burgers were named??in the horsemeat controversy.??(FP) |
The Veterinary Services Department of the Ministry of Agriculture has assured Barbadians that none of the affected beef products named in the horsemeat controversy currently affecting Europe, has made it onto these shores.
According to Senior Veterinary Officer, Dr. Mark Trotman, his department carried out an "extensive trace back investigation" and, to date, none of the identified products had been imported into the island.
"Since the situation is continuing and new companies and products are being identified daily, we will continue to closely monitor the situation and take whatever actions are necessary to ensure that none of the adulterated products are imported commercially into Barbados," Dr. Trotman said.
On January 15, 2013, the Food Safety Authority of Ireland reported, that after a targeted study examining the authenticity of a number of beef burger, beef meal and salami products available from retail outlets, horsemeat was found to be in a number of beef products. Since that date, more beef products have been named including products manufactured and sold across Europe including the United Kingdom and France.
The affected brands and products include:?? Beef Lasagne made by Findus; Everyday Value Spaghetti Bolognaise, Everyday Value Beef Burgers and Beef Quarter Pounders by Tesco; Prima Frost Lasagne by Comigel; Oakhurst 100 per cent Beef Quarter Pounder Burgers, Beef Lasagna, Spaghetti Bolognaise, Oakhurst Beef Burgers, Frozen Specially Selected Aberdeen Angus Quarter Pounders by Aldi; St. Bernard Beef Burgers, Flamehouse Chargrilled Quarter Pounders produced by Dunnes Stores; Moordale Beef Burgers, Moordale Ultimate Beef Burgers, Moordale Quarter Pounders by Lidl; Frozen Beef Burgers by Dalepak; Frozen Beef Burger by Silverpak; Beef Quarter Pounders, 100 per cent Beef Quarter Pounders by Iceland; Beef Quarter Pounders, Beef Frozen Burgers with onions by Co-op; and Beef Lasagne and Beef Burgers by Whitbread.
Dr. Trotman explained that horsemeat was considered a delicacy in many European countries and its presence was not in itself a health concern. However, he added that horsemeat in a product labeled as beef was "an adulteration and is, therefore, unacceptable".
The Senior Veterinary Officer said concerns had also been raised about the potential for drug residues, such as phenylbutazone, which was a common veterinary drug used in horses that could be harmful if present in meat consumed by humans.