WIREDGOV

The Agency has been notified that meat has entered the food supply from two cows aged over 48 months that had not been tested for BSE. A negative BSE test result is mandatory for cattle slaughtered for human consumption at over 48 months of age.

It is very unlikely that the cows were infected with BSE and as specified risk material was removed, any risk to human health is extremely low.

One of the cows was just under 52 months of age and the other just over 52 months of age when slaughtered on 2 November 2010 at J V Richards (Reitfontein) Ltd’s abattoir in Truro. The error was discovered on 10 January in the course of routine cross-checks of slaughter and BSE test data.

According to BSE regulations, both the untested cows and the one slaughtered before them should not have entered the food supply. However, by the time the failure was discovered, all three associated carcasses had left the premises.

Subsequent checks indicate that all the meat from the carcasses is no longer in the food supply chain and is likely to have been eaten.