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The management of Carroll’s Cuisine have agreed to source its Belgian cooked ham product from Ireland, following a protest by pig farmers outside its site. Organised by the IFA pigs committee, pig farmers gathered in Tullamore to raise their concerns over the importation of cooked ham from a country currently affected by African swine fever.
While the disease is not a risk for humans, it can have serious consequences for a pig herd that contracts the disease. Countries, like Belgium, who have seen outbreaks often lose access to valuable export markets, such as China.
Carroll’s is currently consulting with Department officials as to whether there is a risk to importing the product, as it is cooked and processed in Belgium.
Farmers at the protest expressed major concerns as to what might happen if the disease found its way to Ireland. At present, pig prices are at a 15-year low, with farmers losing upwards of 8c/kg.
Speaking to the Irish Farmers Journal, Tim Cullinane of the pigs committee said: “We’re on a journey with the entire industry (...) we’re looking for support from everyone in the industry – to use as much or 100% Irish pig meat.”
He said the committee had a very worthwhile meeting with management and praised Carroll’s for its willingness to come to the table.
After the meeting, Cullinane said Carroll’s would continue to process 100% Irish pig meat. He said it also agreed to replace its imported Belgian product with an equivalent ham cured in Ireland.
Pigs committee chair Tom Hogan echoed Cullinane’s praise for Carroll’s for the positive and amicable meeting and the reaffirmed commitments to Irish pig farmers.
The protest at Carroll’s comes following several IFA protests in Supervalus across Ireland, due to Musgrave’s use of Dutch pork products.
“All our farmers will be checking the shelves in every supermarket at the moment. We can’t just single out one over the other, we’ll be checking everyone," said Hogan.
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