Organically Certified Beef and Pork free from Dioxin contamination

News | 10 Dec 2008

Organically Certified Beef and Pork continue to uphold their reputation for safety, transparency and trust

Organically Certified Beef and Pork free from Dioxin contamination image

The Organic Trust Ltd - the organic organisation which certifies the majority of Ireland’s organic food processors and a very significant proportion of Ireland’s organic producers - emphasises that the organic food system continues to uphold its enviable reputation for the production of safe, transparent and traceable food.  Consumers are reassured that under the organic system no recycled food waste whatsoever is permitted for use in the organic feed system.  All feedstuffs used on Organic Trust certified farms are fully verified by our organisation.  In addition, every single aspect of the production process for organic meat is fully audited by highly qualified Organic Inspectors from field to fork – organic is the only food system which has this level of regulatory control, traceability and transparency. 

Every single organic producer – whether a producer, a processor or a grower – is inspected at least once in every calendar year.  Organic producers are also subject to unannounced inspections, in addition to the annual inspection.  Further inspections are carried out on organic units by the Inspectorate from the Organic Unit of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries & Food. 

At the annual inspections every aspect of the production process and all of the inputs are fully scrutinised and audited.  Therefore, the Organic Trust Limited can reassure the buying public that the quality and safety of all organic beef and pork is unaffected by the recent dioxin problems affecting the conventional meat sector.

The Organic Trust Ltd are of the view that the current problem is symptomatic of the general race to the bottom in relation to food prices in Ireland in particular and in the world in general.  The Organic Certification System proves – yet again -  to consumers that it is a system of food production on which they can fully rely.  Therefore, the Organic Trust believe that lessons need to be learnt from this latest food crisis.  We feel that this is an opportune time to totally review how we produce food in Ireland – not just the feedstuffs used but related issues of animal welfare, food safety, traceability and transparency – all hallmarks of the organic system – which are the fundamental principles on which the organic food production regime is based.

The Organic Trust has been working very closely with government agencies and our own pork producers to allow the resumption of organic pork sales.  As a result of our efforts, it is anticipated that organic pork and organic pork products will shortly be back on the market.

Organic food systems are a viable alternative to factory farming.  We urge the Irish Government to commit even a fraction of the financial resources which will be needed to clean-up after the current crisis into the promotion of organic food production.  In this way encouragement can be given to those farmers faced with ruin as a result of this dioxin scandal to have some chance to remain in farming – farming which is sustainable, safe and ethical.  This will also reward those pioneering organic farmers who have led the way in the production of safe, wholesome foods which are good for nature, good for animal welfare, good for the economy and ultimately good and safe to eat for the consumer.

Organic Trust Ltd
Vernon House
2 Vernon Avenue
Clontarf
Dublin 3
00 353 1 8530271
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Organic Trust Ltd - An INAB accredited certification body - Reg. No. 6008