Probe on

- Published: 10 February, 2006

The Dutch announced on 29 January that a high level of dioxin had been detected in pork fat at a Dutch animal feed manufacturer.

The pork fat had been purchased from a Belgian plant which gets its raw materials from Belgium. An investigation into the companies involved is underway by Belgium's Federal Agency for Safety in the Food Chain. Although the results on samples proved positive, the levels were considerably lower than those reported in the 1999 dioxin crisis.

Belgian and Dutch authorities have blockaded around 300 pig and poultry farms that have received supplies from the companies involved and banned any livestock or products from these farms entering the food chain.