A major advance has been made in guaranteeing the safety of beef products through the use of a DNA tracing system. This provides "pasture to plate" traceability for raw or cooked meats using the equivalent of genetic fingerprinting. Unlike paper-based systems, the DNA cannot be lost, removed or changed.
Superquinn announced yesterday that it was the first supermarket in the world to introduce a DNA testing system called TraceBack, developed by IdentiGEN, at Trinity College, Dublin. With TraceBack, Superquinn can trace meat to the animal of origin.
"This breakthrough in scientific research provides a powerful new tool in beef safety," said Senator Feargal Quinn, Superquinn's chief executive. "The system is an ongoing programme at Superquinn to ensure the safety of all meat which we sell in our shops."
Mr Ciaran Meghen, managing director of IdentiGEN, said TraceBack could be applied almost universally to the beef industry. "It will help to restore lost confidence in beef, both here in Ireland and abroad."
IdentiGEN, in association with Superquinn and its sole beef suppliers, Irish Food Processors, has been working on the new technique for two years.
Every animal selected for Superquinn is entered into IdentiGEN's cattle DNA database. Using advanced analytical methods, IdentiGEN verifies that Superquinn's meat has come from these cattle. The meat is linked to the actual animal of origin, not just to a farm or group of farms. This method makes it possible to verify that the meat has been produced to the supermarket's specifications, assuring natural rearing and freedom from disease, growth hormones and harmful bacteria.
The Minister of State for Agriculture, Mr Ned O'Keeffe, said recent years had been difficult for the beef sector, beginning in 1996 with the BSE crisis. This had resulted in a large reduction in beef consumption worldwide and in the loss of many important market outlets for Irish beef. However, the situation now looked brighter for beef and consumption levels had recovered.
He said the development of an effective animal tracing programme was crucial if we were to maintain access to our traditional markets, penetrate new markets and deal effectively with competition from other suppliers.
Phase one of the computer tracking system began in September with the recording of cattle-movement information by 40 marts and the beginning of a paper notification system for private sales. More marts are now recording information.
Mr O'Keeffe said he hoped to soon have in place a comprehensive computerised identification and tracing system which would guarantee the origin, identity and life history of Irish cattle from birth to slaughter before they entered the food chain.
On the TraceBack system, he said this had "significant potential" and his Department would be viewing developments with interest.