Trade withdrawal of beef dripping containing animal by-products
Wednesday 29 September 2004
Category D: For information only
Ref: 44/2004 (England); D45/2004 (Scotland)
An incident is currently under investigation in England and Scotland. Investigations have revealed that edible beef fat sold as beef dripping has been manufactured by Nortech Foods Ltd based in Doncaster, using ingredients that contained category 3 animal by-products.
This is in breach of EU Regulation 1774/2002 as read with the Animal By-Products Regulations 2003, which prevent the incorporation of animal by-products into food intended for human consumption.
A notice has been served on the company under the Animal By-Products Regulations, requiring them to discontinue this practice.
The company is co-operating fully with the investigation, is disposing of all its remaining stock of affected products, and is carrying out a full trade withdrawal to recover from its customers any remaining dripping.
A number of local authorities in whose area Nortech's primary customers are based have already been contacted by the FSA to oversee the withdrawal. It is possible that other local authorities may be contacted by their customers in turn for information or advice.
The batch of beef dripping in question was produced between 16 August 2004 to 17 September 2004. It is highly unlikely to pose any risk to health because of the high temperatures at which it was processed and microbiological testing of the end product has found it to be microbiologically safe. The animal by-products used to manufacture this product were derived from carcasses that had been through the normal hygiene and BSE controls.
The Agency has recommended a trade withdrawal to recover all products still remaining as beef dripping. If this has been incorporated into further products, or is in use, the Agency does not feel it a proportionate response to require recovery of such products.
The trade withdrawal appears to have been effective in removing the affected product from all major retailers that had been supplied with it. To assist local authorities if they receive enquiries from the public, the Agency has prepared a press release which outlines the details of the product sold through retailers. This press release can be viewed from the link at the foot of this page. Customers who have any affected products are being encouraged to return them to their supplier.