New plans for animal feed testing
A food scientist in Northern Ireland has claimed that a £4 million Europe-wide study into testing on animal feed could protect the public from potentially fatal toxins in food.
The news comes after Irish pork was taken off the shelves in a contamination crisis, in which potentially cancer-causing dioxins were found in the meat due to infected animal feed.
Professor Chris Elliott, director of the Institute of Agri-Food and Land Use at Queen’s University in Belfast, said meat, milk, seafood and cereals would all be covered if the study is a success.
Mr Elliott said the project, named Conffidence, would provide solutions – long-term and short-term – to contamination from pesticides, pollution and other substances.
He added: "The main focus at Queen’s will be on developing highly innovative means of detecting natural toxins in a wide range of foods."
Mr Elliott said that in light of contaminated feed being blamed for the Irish pork crisis, chemicals in food is a major concern.
He added: "The presence of chemical contaminants in food is a major concern for both European governments and consumers.
"Thankfully the presence of chemical contaminants in food is fatal in only a small number of cases. However, the true effects of long-term exposure to these toxins are far from clear and may present significant heath risks."
Copyright © Press Association 2008
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