This article is from page 17 of the 2005-08-30 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 17 JPG
THE IFA has reacted angrily to claims made by celebrity chef Richard Corrig- an that chicken produced in Ireland are sub standard and “full of antibiotics”.
Chairman of the IFA Poultry Com- mittee Alan Graham has dismissed the claims made by Mr Corrigan as false and incorrect. Mr Graham claimed that there are strict regulations in place when it comes to using animal rem- edies and suggested that Mr Corrigan may simply be trying to drum up pub- licity for his new restaurant.
“A Chicken Quality Assurance Scheme has been in place in this country since January 2003 that sets out strict regulations to safeguard the health and welfare of chicken flocks,” said Mr Graham. “Mr Corrigan may need some publicity for his new restau- rant but he should not abuse a platform afforded to him.”
Richard Corrigan grew up on a 25 acre farm in Meath but now runs the Lindsay House restaurant in London. He has been widely quoted in recent days as urging people not to buy Irish chicken and claiming that badly fed, poorly exercised and full of antibiot- ne
“Tm appalled at the standard of chicken in Ireland. It’s not good enough, people should demand better,” said the celebrity chef. He also claimed that some chickens were “stacked in some shed probably, fed a load of antibiotics and a load of crap.”
The IFA’s Mr Graham went on to challenge Mr Corrigan to examine
the Quality Assurance Scheme. He claimed that if he did he would find over 30 pages of detailed regulations for chicken producing that are aimed at protecting the welfare of chickens and providing consumers with a product that is produced to the highest stand- ards.
‘All houses must have a controlled environment, which ensures that ambi-
ent temperature, air quality and lighting meet the needs of the flock throughout the growing cycle,” said Mr Graham.
He also pointed out that the welfare and health of a flock depends on the implementation of good stock manage- ment and the provision of a suitable environment.