EC examines animal feed from contaminated peels
Dioxin contaminated potato peels have been discovered in a Dutch potato processing company which uses potato by-products to produce animal feed. As a result, all movement of animals which received the feed from has been blocked including 162 farms in the
Tracing the products through the food chain has revealed that the Dutch company used potato separator clay from Germany to separate high-quality potatoes from lower quality ones. This clay was found to be contaminated by dioxins and appears to have contaminated the potato by-products.
Currently the European Commission and national authorities of the Member States are tracing the chain of deliveries through the European Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed. So far, the analysis of the Dutch company’s potato products intended for human consumption has not indicated unacceptable levels of dioxin and no warning has been issued regarding consumer health and safety.
The German clay company is investigating whether more food operators purchased the same clay to separate foods and all Member States are examining their separation process practices.
Dioxins are long-lasting environmental pollutants formed as unwanted by-products of combustion processes, such as waste incineration, bonfires and cigarette smoke. Concerns about the impact of dioxins on human health are rooted in the potential risk to health evolving from long-term consumption of foods containing high levels of the contaminants.
