Strabane meat producer hoping for speedy halal investigation

The Strabane food company at the centre of the latest DNA testing controversy have described the incident as “isolated.”

McColgans Foods have also stated that they hope a Food Standards Agency NI inquiry into how traces of pork were found in halal meats will be completed: “rapidly.”

The meats in question were bound for distribution to prisons by English company 3663. McColgans food suppliers have had their contract to 3663 suspended as a result of the discovery of pork in the halal produce.

Under Islamic law, Muslims are required to eat halal food while the consumption of pork is strictly forbidden. The word halal means ‘permitted’ in Arabic.

Last month a number of high profile contracts were lost by Irish suppliers after horse DNA was discovered in beef products. McColgans said that it is business as usual in that there are no other issues at the plant.

“This is limited to the halal meat line and there are no other official investigations underway at this time.”

The Journal understands that the issues are limited to a small sample of products produced by McColgans.

A spokesperson for McColgans said: “The issue opens wider issues in the industry regarding the implications for regulating foods.”

McColgans employ 100 people at their plant on Strabane’s Dublin Road.

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