Food sector defends Bord Bia over chef's criticism

THE IRISH food industry has leapt to the defence of Bord Bia and the way Irish food is labelled following strong criticism from chef Richard Corrigan.

Mr Corrigan, a Michelin-starred chef with restaurants in Dublin and London, said Bord Bia should be abolished or overhauled and that producers from any EU country can buy into the body's quality assurance scheme if they followed the correct guidelines.

In response, the Irish Exporters' Association stated that Mr Corrigan's comments were inaccurate, while the Ibec group, Food and Drink Industry Ireland, said the scheme had helped to raise quality standards.

At a press conference in Dublin, filmed for his RTÉ series Corrigan's City Farm, Mr Corrigan said Bord Bia's quality assurance scheme was deeply flawed. He said the scheme does not ensure the products are made in Ireland or are free from genetically modified content and this damages how Irish food is viewed abroad.

"In a Europe where people are more concerned about where food is from, I feel that Bord Bia are making a great error in the whole labelling of Irish food," he said.

"Irish agricultural produce will be placed on the lower shelves within the supermarkets as second-class ingredients if we don't move in the GM area."

Mr Corrigan said he was not against Irish farming or Bord Bia and that the State body had done a fine job selling Irish food abroad.

However, he said a "radical rethink" of how the body operates was required and that promotion of Irish food at home and abroad should be separated.

"I would like to call for at least a radical overhaul of Bord Bia's role to preserve and create Irish jobs, to empower Irish consumers, to support Irish farmers and to see taxpayers' money spent constructively," he said.

Paul Kelly of Food and Drink Industry Ireland said €8 billion worth of exports to 160 countries last year was testament to the global recognition of the quality of Irish food.

"Quality schemes raise standards even higher, identify and differentiate Irish food to consumers at home and in export markets," he said.

Godfrey Lydon of the Irish Exporters' Association said Mr Corrigan's comments were "misinformed and inaccurate" and not helpful in the economic climate.

Bord Bia chief executive Aidan Cotter said the suggestion that the organisation might apply its funding to promote products from outside Ireland was false.

"It is misleading to consumers and extremely damaging to an industry that has come under enormous pressure in a very difficult marketing environment," he said.