URGENT MEASURES NEEDED TO AVOID ANOTHER FOOD SCANDAL
Farmed salmon products recalled amid Listeria fears
FISSTA – The Federation of Irish Salmon and Seatrout Anglers have welcomed the intervention by the FSAI – Food Safety Authority of Ireland to recall a range of smoked salmon products sold by a leading fish producer after the presence of Listeria was detected in certain batches. It is not known as yet if this information arose from random testing or from a series of complaints by consumers or hospital patients.
The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) issued the recall notice on specific stock units of farmed oak smoked salmon with ClarkeÔÇÖs Fish Exports label as ÔÇ£a precautionary measureÔÇØ.
The origin or source of the original farmed salmon sides are unknown at this stage but it expected that the traceability system should reveal if the salmon were supplied from a farm in Norway or Ireland. The enquiry has begun to examine the list of clients the affected smoked farmed salmon were supplied to as exports. Recall of such a product will once again undermine the confidence in Irish food as it is believed the supply chain involves distributors, online customers and retail shops both in Ireland and across Europe. There have been numerous cases of Listeriosis being found in farmed salmon and it is treated as a serious health issue and can even be life threatening.
FISSTA Chairman Paul Lawton stated “We welcome the swift action of the FSAI in adopting the precautionary measure to recall immediately all suspected product, but Minister Simon Coveney TD must like the contaminated meat crisis, act now to restore the confidence in Irish food by introducing the same high standard of compliance for farmed salmon as there exists for beef, lamb and other imported raw material foods. Unsustainable practices have led to this crisis and the Minister can no longer sit on his hands and do nothing. His policy to develop the ten mega fish farm plan starting with a 15,000 ton – 75 cage complex in Galway Bay near Inis Oirr must be withdrawn now if consumer confidence is to be restored and another costly food scandal is to be averted. I also call on newly elected President of IFA Mr Eddie Downey, to assist the Minister in his food security decision to protect all Agri food exports now. IFA AQUACULTURE can no longer confuse and mislead their parent organisation into supporting unsustainable food production practices such as open net cages in the marine where pollute to produce ethos is the norm. Agriculture and real farmers have long complied with EU waste management standards on land but the same regulations sadly do not apply in the marine.”
FISSTA are campaigning to save their wild Atlantic salmon from being wiped out due to pollution and sealice emanating from salmon farms located in the migratory path of the wild salmon in which it is estimated that up to 39% are affected. Ends.
Sent from the desk of
Noel Carr Secretary FISSTA
Federation of Irish Salmon & Seatrout Anglers.
Address: Teelin Rd. Carrick. Co. Donegal Office Tel: 00353 749730300
Mobile. 00353872352001
Email. Dgl1@indigo.ie