The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) released a statement to the Irish Farmers Journal outlining that the “Department Veterinary Inspectorate have condemned carcases at a number of sheep slaughter plants over a number of weeks as being unfit for human consumption. The carcases were excluded from the food chain. The animals having been traced”.

The statement went on to say that “The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine operates a comprehensive system of ante and post mortem inspection on all animals slaughtered in Irish meat plants. Where animals fail to meet the required standards, they are excluded from the food chain”.

The source of the infection has allegedly been traced to one flock in Donegal, with the issue not believed to be widespread. It is understood that the flock involved has been locked up.

As these carcasses were discovered before they went into the food chain, there is no risk to human health.

The fact that affected carcasses were identified and removed before entering the food chain highlights the strict food safety protocols that are in place at Irish processing plants.

Sarcocystosis develops in a host about one to two weeks after ingesting muscle tissue that contains the Sarcocystis cysts. The final host will then begin to shed the infective parasites in their faeces.

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No health concerns as condemned lamb removed before it reached the food chain

The Department of Agriculture has responded to reports that a number of lamb carcases were destroyed in recent weeks after believing to be infected with sarcocystosis.