Milk from two dairy farms in Northern Ireland has been stopped from entering the food chain following test results that show dioxin levels above legal limits, the Food Standards Agency said today.
Although breaching regulations, these levels of dioxin are much lower than those found in pork and beef affected by feed contamination last year. The risk to health from either drinking the affected milk or eating products made from the milk is extremely low.
The milk affected was distributed locally in Northern Ireland and also to the Republic of Ireland. The milk from these farms is usually mixed with milk from other farms before sale, so any finished product on the market is likely to be diluted and well within the legal limits for dioxins. The FSA is not calling for a withdrawal of any products from the shops but will continue to test and restrict the milk until it complies with the law.
The Food Standards Agency continues to monitor the situation and is in close contact with Government bodies in Northern Ireland. Contamination of the milk is likely to be from dioxin residues in the fat of animals that had previously eaten contaminated feed.
Dioxins are chemicals that get into food from the environment. Health effects from eating the affected products are only likely if people are exposed to relatively high levels of this contaminant for long periods
