Food Standards Agency
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Listen to this siteWednesday 25 June 2003
This research project aims to establish if bovine MRM was a significant source of BSE infected material and then to provide as much information on the historic use of MRM between 1980 and 1995.
Study Duration : April 2002 to August 2002
Contractor : Det Norske Veritas Ltd
This project takes the form of a comprehensive survey to try to establish the use of mechanically recovered meat (MRM) from cattle during the period 1980 to 1995. This information has been requested by independent scientists on the Government’s expert Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee (SEAC) and will help to improve estimates of the possible exposure of people to BSE and the risk of contracting vCJD from consuming meat products that contained MRM during that period. Until 1995 the inclusion of MRM obtained from any bovine bones in food was legally permissible and there is no suggestion that any food company has broken the law in incorporating this material into processed meat products.
The study focused only on the historic risk and is not relevant to any current food safety issues; as the use of bovine backbone in the production of MRM was banned in 1995 and extended in 1998 to cover the use of backbone of sheep and goats. The study aimed to establish if bovine MRM was a significant source of BSE infected material and then to provide as much information as possible on the manufacture, use and consumption of MRM during the period 1980 to 1995. It covered all facets of the food production chain - such as slaughterhouses/cutting plants, MRM production, producers of meat products that contained MRM (in particular baby foods), butchers, retail outlets and institutional users.
The results of this project were published on the FSA website in October 2002. Please click on the link below to access the press release and the full final report from DNV.
Final report can be accessed on the FSA website
See also
Contact
: Stephen Dixon
Tel
: 020 7276 8342 (Intl. +44 (0) 20 7276 8342)
Email
: stephen.dixon@foodstandards.gsi.gov.uk
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