Judge: Meat falsely sold as Irish hits entire trade

A MEAT company found guilty of labelling foreign beef as Irish defrauded not only customers but the entire industry, according to a judge.

Keelaghan Wholesale Meats Ltd was fined a total of €16,000 at Navan District Court this week for six offences related to food safety legislation.

These included falsely declaring Irish origin for beef imported from Poland, Lithunia or Germany, the application of false Irish slaughter and cutting plant codes used on packaging labels, and having an inadequate beef traceability plan.

The wholesaler, with an address at 101-102 Ashbourne Industrial Estate, was taken to court by the Food Safety Authority Ireland following an investigation by the authority in conjunction with Meath County Council.

Judge Gráinne Malone noted it was a very serious matter and that it was a fraud not just on the consumer but the entire industry.

In a statement, Dr Pamela Byrne, CEO of the FSAI, said the breaches related to deliberate misleading of the consumer with false labelling of beef incorrectly indicating the country of origin as Ireland.

Dr Byrne said ‘food businesses are obliged by law to ensure that the information they provide to their customers is accurate.’

‘Customers must have confidence in their food suppliers and should seek to assure themselves that the food they are purchasing is authentic.

‘Today’s ruling by the courts reinforces that breaches of food law which are in place to protect consumers’ health and interests will not be tolerated,’ she said.

The breaches came under European regulations on food law, labelling and traceability requirements.