DUBLIN: A court has mandated the destruction of all meat from Ireland’s sole horse slaughterhouse, Shannonside Foods Ltd., after it failed to meet food safety standards. The order came from Limerick Court judge Patricia Harney, who dismissed an appeal by Shannonside Foods against the Department of Agriculture’s directive to destroy the carcasses of 65 horses slaughtered earlier this month.
Concerns about the unsanitary conditions of horse slaughtering have been raised, especially amidst allegations that horse meat has been illicitly added to some of Ireland’s beef products. Department of Agriculture officials found that the meat from Shannonside Foods in Straffan, Kildare, did not comply with food safety regulations. Following media reports on the abattoir’s practices, Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue intervened last weekend to close the facility and order the destruction of the meat.
Inspections revealed horses in very poor health on the premises, with three found dead. The Department of Agriculture reported significant inconsistencies and misleading information in the slaughterhouse’s animal records. Superintendent Veterinary Inspector Ann Quinn testified that Shannonside Foods failed to produce accurate documentation regarding the origins of the horses and suspected that documents had been forged post-slaughter. The department is currently investigating potential violations of animal health and welfare laws in coordination with the Ireland Food Safety Authority and other EU member states.
Shannonside Foods Ltd.’s legal team stated that the destroyed meat was valued at €80,000 and suggested that the department’s actions were an attempt to mitigate public embarrassment following media exposure of the facility’s poor practices. However, the Department of Agriculture refuted this claim, noting that the facility operates under a full license.
While horse meat consumption is relatively rare in Ireland, it is used for export and in the production of certain medications. In countries like Kazakhstan, horse meat is considered a delicacy. Nonetheless, there are allegations that horse meat has been used to adulterate beef products.
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