David Hurley, 16 Jun
CONSUMERS in Limerick who have shopped at the Iceland store in the city
over the past three months are being advised not to eat any imported
frozen food of animal origin which they bought.
The Food Safety Authority of Ireland has served a notice on Metron
Stores Limited (trading as Iceland Ireland) directing to to immediately
withdraw al imported frozen food of animal origin which has been
imported into Ireland since March 3.
In addition, the FSAI is directing the company to recall the implicated
product from consumers.
In a statement, it said: "As a precaution, the FSAI is advising
consumers not to eat any imported frozen food of animal origin bought
from Iceland Ireland stores since March 3, 2023. Foods of animal origin
are any food products that contain ingredients that come from an
animal, such as chicken, meat, fish, eggs, dairy products, etc. This
enforcement action is due to a number of identified breaches of food
legislation and an ongoing investigation."
The company operates a single store in Limerick - at Watch House Cross,
Moyross and one in Shannon, County Clare.
According to the FSAI, there have been a number of incidents of
non-compliance with import control legislation in relation to frozen
foods of animal origin.
It says some frozen food of animal origin has been imported into
Ireland without pre-notification and completion of entry declarations
and health certificates since March 3, 2023.
Discussions with the company have taken place and the investigation
involves the FSAI; the Environmental Health Service of the Health
Service Executive; the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine;
the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority.
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According to Dr Pamela Byrne, CEO of FSAI the matter involves serious
breaches of food law.
“To date, while we have no reports of any illness associated with
implicated products from Iceland Ireland stores, in the absence of the
company providing valid and correct traceability documentation as
required by the law, we have to take a precautionary approach to best
protect consumers, as we cannot be fully confident of the traceability
and safety of these imported frozen foods of animal origin."
Consumers are being advised that foods of animal origin are any food
products that contain ingredients that come from an animal, such as
chicken, meat, fish, eggs, dairy products, etc.
"It is the legal responsibility of any food business importing food
into Ireland to make the correct import declarations for the food they
are importing. All food businesses must also have full traceability
information on the food they are importing, producing, distributing and
selling. Due to these breaches of food legislation and in the interest
of consumer protection, this action has been taken," added Dr Byrne.
The, details of which were revealed on Thursday evening, action is part
of an ongoing investigation following identification by Department of
Agriculture, Food and the Marine Border Control Post officials, in
collaboration with Revenue Customs, of undeclared frozen food of animal
origin with no accompanying documentation for goods being imported by
Metron Stores Limited trading as Iceland Ireland into Ireland.
This, the FSAI says, has led to the Department of Agriculture, Food and
the Marine detaining consignments and issuing an import control notice
to return them to Great Britain or destroy them.
As part of the investigation, the FSAI has informed the European
Commission, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) UK, Food Standards Agency
Northern Ireland, and Food Standards Scotland and are sharing relevant
information to support the investigation.
The FSAI Advice Line can be contacted at by email info@fsai.ie or
through our social media channels.