Warning signs in the countdown to disaster
Monday December 08 2008
Friday, November 28
A routine sample taken on November 19 as part of the Department's national residue monitoring programme tested positive for the presence of contamination.
Saturday, November 29
A farm was visited and three additional pigs slaughtered for samples. Feed ingredient samples also taken.
Monday, December 1
Three further pork fat samples from the same farm tested positive for contamination. Only one of the feed ingredient samples tested positive.
Tuesday, December 2
Three additional pork samples taken on November 29 and one feed ingredient sample tested positive for contamination. Department visited the premises of the producer of the positive feed ingredient and samples were taken.
Wednesday, December 3
There were 42 samples of feed ingredients, which date back to September, taken for analysis from the feed ingredient producer. Seven pig producers, with 10 sites, and 38 cattle farms which were customers of the food recycler were identified.
Thursday, December 4
The 10 pig sites were placed under restriction. Tests to the 38 beef farms began. The Department issued an initial statement on the PCBs.
Friday, December 5
Two of the 42 feed ingredient samples taken from the food recycler tested positive for contamination. Restrictions were placed on the beef farms.
The Department was contacted by Dutch authorities about an independent investigation they had been carrying out into the presence of PCBs in pork fat samples.
It then emerged samples of dioxins had been found in October in France, while as far back as September a Belgium rendering plant had noted an increasing level of PCBs.
Saturday, December 6
Taoiseach Brian Cowen met with Ministers Mary Harney, Brendan Smith, Trevor Sargent and Mary Wallace in Agriculture House at 3.30pm.
A UK lab confirmed the presence of dioxins in pork samples at 3.40pm. Decision was taken to immediately recall all Irish pork products from pigs slaughtered since September 1 last. The Rapid Alert System for Feed and Food was activated.
Sunday, December 7
The European Food Safety Authority was asked to give assistance and provide advice and an expert group was established. Supermarkets and retailers began removing the product from their shelves, while hotels took it off the menu. Retailers met with Agriculture Minister Brendan Smith to discuss the recall measure.
