The revelation that dangerous hormones, banned in the European Union since 1981, have been detected in Brazilian beef, now circulating in the European food chain demands an urgent and serious rethink on the Mercosur Trade Deal
That’s according to Aontu Senator Sarah O Reilly who says
“This is a wake-up call for those advocating the Mercosur Trade Deal. Banned hormones in our food supply is devastating , and we must prioritise the safety of Irish and European consumers. These substances have been linked to hormone disruption and an increased risk of cancer.
“These hormones, including substances such as zeranol, trenbolone acetate, and melengestrol acetate, are prohibited due to their links to potential cancer risks and serious health concerns. Despite this long-standing ban, routine checks in November uncovered their presence in imported beef, raising significant alarm over food safety standards and regulatory enforcement.
We in Aontú always warned that this could happen. We know that producers in South America are not subject to the exacting rigorous checks that Irish farmers are.
The frozen beef from Brazil containing these banned hormones is now in the food chain across Europe.
Our government has an absolute duty to fight against the implementation of Mercosur and this absolutely reinforces that”.
