Unauthorised use of veterinary drugs in red deer used for human consumption: update

Heads of Environmental Health Services and Directors of Trading Standards will wish to be aware that further to food hazard warning 40/2003, relating to the circulation of red deer meat contaminated with the drugs Immobilon™ and Revivon™, further information has come to light with regard to the distribution of potentially affected products.

The previous Food Hazard Warning said that potentially affected meat had been distributed to only one processing premises in England, that of Sillfield Farm Products, Sillfield Farm Endmoor, Kendall, Cumbria. It has now been discovered that this company has used potentially contaminated venison in the manufacture of three different products, namely pheasant and venison sausages, venison and pork sausages and cooked game pie.

The sausages are sold in polystyrene trays and over wrapped with clear plastic, in portions of 450g, and the cooked game pies are sold unwrapped, and are 1.5lbs in weight.

These products have been sold from a number of locations across the UK since 11 August 2003, including farmers' markets and country shows. The complete list of sites and dates from which these products have been sold, and the range of products sold, is attached at the end of this Food Hazard Warning.

The company is arranging for the destruction of all potentially affected venison. All venison products sold after 16 October 2003 will have been made using unaffected venison.

Action to be taken by the Food Standards Agency
The press release issued by the Agency last week is attached to the Food Hazard Warning for use by local authorities as a basis for any further local press releases.

Actions to be taken by local authorities
The meat used to manufacture these products has been derived from animals that may have been treated with Immobilon™ and Revivon™, and therefore these products do not comply with the requirements specified in the Food Safety Act 1990.

While products purchased may have been consumed immediately, there remains the possibility that purchasers may have frozen them for consumption at a later date. Local authorities are therefore asked to consider providing, where appropriate, local publicity at the next available opportunity on this issue, if they feel these products may be in their area.

For that purpose local authorities may wish to refer to the Food Standards Agency's press release, which can be found attached to this Food Hazard Warning. This can serve as a basis for any press release which can be updated with any relevant local information from the Food Hazard Warning.