DUNNES STORES will this morning consider whether to remove all confectionery, cosmetics and medicines containing British beef derivatives following last night's EU ban on all products made with British beef.
A spokesman said that the company had decided to remove all British meat from its shelves last night after learning of the ban and it would today consider the implications for other products such as Easter eggs, wine gums, shampoo and vitamin capsules.
The ban, which the British government will challenge today, applies to all exports of live calves and cattle and all beef and veal products, including items such as stock cubes, gelatins and medical, pharmaceutical and cosmetic products containing beef derivatives.
Superquinn said last night that it had already cleared its shelves of products containing British beef and had checked confectionery to see whether it contained gelatin derived from British beef.
The company's chairman, Mr Vincent O'Doherty, said that it had not found any traces of British beef in its stocks of Easter eggs, gelatin, jelly, pastilles, wine gums or capsules.
Beef based gelatin, a setting agent often used in confectionery, is produced by boiling and treating animal skin and ligaments. A spokesman for Cadbury UK? said that the company used beef gelatin in products such as Curly Wurly, Strollers and Mini-Eggs. Two thirds of the gelatin came from European sources and the remainder from accredited suppliers in the UK.
"The total quantity in each is a fraction of a fraction of 1 per cent ... We are not convinced that there is actually any danger of risk in using gelatin, but if that advice changes, we would have to reconsider our position", the Cadbury spokesman said.
Nestle Rowntree confirmed that it used British beef gelatin in chilled desserts sold in Ireland. Beef gelatin sourced in France and Germany is used in confectionery such as Jelly Tots. A spokes woman said that the company believed the products made with British beef gelatin were "perfectly safe", as the suppliers were regularly audited and checked.
Quinnsworth/Crazy Prices yesterday removed more than 20 chilled and frozen food products made with beef from Britain and Northern Ireland. Products taken off the shelves included Heinz weight watchers beef lasagne, Dolmio cannelloni bolognese and Bird's Eye beef curry and shepherd's pie. Beef pies and sausages from McColgan's and Kingsway Foods in Northern Ireland were also withdrawn.