Cattle aged over 30 months enter food supply without being tested for BSE
The UK Food Standards Agency has been notified that meat from three imported cows aged over 30 months, which were not tested for BSE, has entered the food supply.
As specified risk material (SRM) was removed and it is unlikely that the cows were infected with BSE, any risk to human health is extremely low.
The three cows were aged between 31 and 34 months when slaughtered on 1 July 2009 at RWM Food Group’s abattoir in Langport, Somerset. They had been imported from Estonia in December 2007. BSE testing is mandatory for cattle born there if slaughtered for human consumption at over 30 months of age.
The error was discovered on 7 September 2009 during routine cross checks of slaughter and BSE test data. By the time the failure was discovered, all of the carcasses had left the premises and subsequent enquiries indicate that the affected meat is no longer in the food supply chain.
As specified risk material (SRM) was removed and it is unlikely that the cows were infected with BSE, any risk to human health is extremely low.
The three cows were aged between 31 and 34 months when slaughtered on 1 July 2009 at RWM Food Group’s abattoir in Langport, Somerset. They had been imported from Estonia in December 2007. BSE testing is mandatory for cattle born there if slaughtered for human consumption at over 30 months of age.
The error was discovered on 7 September 2009 during routine cross checks of slaughter and BSE test data. By the time the failure was discovered, all of the carcasses had left the premises and subsequent enquiries indicate that the affected meat is no longer in the food supply chain.
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