The Department of Agriculture has confirmed that a survey of Irish pigs has found the presence of salmonella in more than 12 per cent of samples. The figures were released after the Minister of State, Mr Ned O'Keeffe, had been accused by Ms Liz McManus, the Democratic Left TD, of failing to disclose them in the Dail.
A survey to establish the level of salmonella in the Irish pig herd was completed in February 1997, a Department spokesman said yesterday. "This showed that salmonella was isolated from between 12 and 13 per cent of the samples taken."
A total of 1,282 samples were taken in the survey from 225 pig herds. The tests were carried out on samples from the gastro-intestinal tract.
The spokesman confirmed that salmonella was a common problem in pigs throughout the world. He said that four countries - Ireland, Sweden, Finland and Denmark - had implemented "comprehensive control programmes" to deal with the food poisoning agent in pigs. The bacterium can be found in the gut of all livestock.
"It is important to understand that the samples taken were from the gastro-intestinal tract and that slaughter hygiene is aimed at preventing contamination of the edible parts of the carcass from such sources", the spokesman said.
A salmonella control programme was established last July, in conjunction with the food industry, in order to reduce the potential for problems where such contamination does occur.
Ms McManus repeatedly sought figures on the level of salmonella in Irish pigs in the Dail on Tuesday. Mr O'Keeffe replied then that the number of infected pig herds was "the bare minimum", but did not disclose the figure.
