Product recall of organic free-range chicken contaminated with a nitrofuran

Wednesday 20 October 2004

Category D: For information only

Ref: 47/2004 (England) D48/2004 (Scotland)

Moy Park Limited (Craigavon), Unit 39 Seagoe Industrial Estate, Craigavon, Co. Armagh has undertaken a product recall of fresh organic free range chicken.

The product, which comprises both whole birds and chicken pieces, is sold under the brand names of Moy Park, Morrisons, Tesco and Waitrose.

It is contaminated with a nitrofuran (furazolidone), a veterinary medicine banned within the EU.

The problem came to light during routine tests, carried out by the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) Veterinary Science Division as part of the UK's surveillance programme for veterinary medicines.

The chickens came from a Northern Ireland farm and the remaining slaughtered chickens are being held.

Moy Park is co-operating fully with DARD and the FSA in investigating all possible causes of the contamination.

The administration of furazolidone to food-producing animals was prohibited throughout the European Union, following its addition to Annexe IV of Council Regulation 2377/90, following the adoption of Commission Regulation 1442/95 in 1995.

The use of furazolidone was prohibited because of its carcinogenicity and genotoxicity.

At the levels detected, any increased risk is likely to be small, and there is no risk of immediate ill-health.

No other Waitrose, Tesco, Moy Park or Morrisons products are known to be affected.

There should not be any of this chicken left on sale in supermarkets because the 'use-by' dates have expired.

Consumers may have frozen the chicken, but they should not consume it. Instead they should either dispose of it or return it to the retailer where it was bought.

The retailers affected have been asked to put up point-of-sale notices and Moy Park has indicated that they intend to issue a press release.

To assist District Councils if they receive enquiries from the public, the Agency has prepared a press release which outlines the details of the product sold through retailers.