merrion street

Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney this afternoon announced a major breakthrough in the joint investigation by his Department and the FSAI into the source of equine DNA in beef burgers.The Minister confirmed that results received overnight were positive for equine DNA in meat imported from another Member State as raw material for the production of burgers at Silvercrest.

While earlier results had shown trace levels of equine DNA  in imported raw materials, the latest results showed significant levels of equine DNA, (4.1%) in raw material which was used in the manufacture of burgers which the Department found yesterday to contain significant amounts of Equine DNA. The investigation has therefore established a direct correlation between burgers in which a high level of equine DNA was detected and this raw material product. The Minister said he was confident that this finding leads to a firm conclusion that the raw material in question was the source of equine DNA introduced into burgers manufactured at Silvercrest.

The Minister also reaffirmed that tests on samples taken from Irish food ingredients were negative and he was pleased that the integrity of Irish food production was maintained. The objective of the intensive investigation carried out by the Department and the FSAI was to identify the source of the equine DNA and to find the cause of the problemFrom the point of view of preserving the integrity and reputation of the Irish Food Industry it was particularly important that the investigation was carried out in a thorough, prompt, secure and transparent manner.

The current findings of the official investigation do not show any evidence that the company deliberately used horsemeat in their production process.

 In conclusion, the Minister said that the intensive investigation is now winding down.