IFA Demands Thorough Investigation into Potato Mislabeling

The Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) potato chairman Thomas McKeown said that mislabeling regarding country of origin and variety was a constant problem for potatoes and IFA has brought this matter to the attention of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) on numerous occasions.

He called on the Department to thoroughly investigate this incident and to penalize those responsible. McKeown’s comments came after Irish Farmers Journal have recently published an investigation into potato mislabeling.

As part of its potato promotion campaign, Bord Bia has placed particular emphasis on the consumption of Queen Potatoes. “It is very disappointing to witness these fraudulent activities which mislead the consumer in relation to the variety.”

Thomas McKeown also called on the Food Safety Authority to become involved in the investigation as ultimately, they are the state body responsible for upholding the legislation around food labeling.

Finally, he said all retailers, especially those who inadvertently or otherwise stocked these particular potatoes, must do more to ensure that they have traceability systems in place which prevent food fraud.

Mislabeling of food, while is not necessarily unsafe, deceives the consumer as to the nature of the product or makes false statements about the source of ingredients, according to the Food Safe Authority of Ireland.