The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) has moved to allay fears surrounding poultry meat following a report by the National Food Residue Database (NFRD) which found that one-in-five samples tested positive for chemical residue.
The NFRD study found 20 per cent of poultry samples contained residues of the veterinary drug nicarbazine which is an authorised feed additive used to maintain good health.
While nicarbazine is routinely used early in the birds' lives, it is supposed to be phased out to provide the consumer with residue-free meat and eggs.
In a statement today, the FSAI said the incidence of nicarbazin residues did not pose a serious risk to consumer health.
"Due to the low toxicity of nicarbazin, the low levels found in chicken liver, and the fact that chicken liver is not consumed in large quantities, the FSAI believes there is no risk to consumer health," it said.
The FSAI said the figures reported relate to 2004 and the number of positive samples is declining year on year.
It said: "The FSAI and the Department of Agriculture and Food thoroughly investigated these residue notifications in 2004 and were satisfied that a specific risk to consumers of poultry meat did not arise from these incidences."
But Labour Party spokeswoman on agriculture and food safety,
Dr Upton called for stricter enforcement of the requirement for long withdrawal periods to prevent traces of drugs ending up in poultry meat.
"While it has to be recognised that poultry farmers do need to treat chickens for infections by giving them these drugs, there must be stricter enforcement of the requirement for long withdrawal periods to prevent traces ending up in chicken meat," she said.
Dr Mary Upton claimed Ireland's reputation has been had been totally jeopardised by these revelations.
