Investigations into the introduction of illegal horsemeat into the European food chain

The Irish television station RTÉ broadcast a program revealing problems with the traceability of horses in Europe. Investigations are ongoing into suspected illegal slaughter and fraud to introduce unfit horsemeat into the food chain. In its program broadcast on June 12, 2024, the station touched upon the issues of traceability, misuse of microchips and fake passports. The document contained evidence of illegal activities aimed at falsifying the identity of horses at Shannonside Foods, which is Ireland's only active horse slaughterhouse. Between January 1, 2023 and March 1, 2024, identification records showed that 20 horses were declared unfit for human consumption in the UK or France but were later slaughtered at a facility operated by Shannonside Foods. In addition, it presented, among others: secret recording of workers microchipping horses before slaughter. Food safety authorities investigating trace fraud The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) issued a special statement ...