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Horsemeat scandal: bute drug presents 'very low risk' to public health Horsemeat scandal: bute drug 'presents very low risk to public health'
(35 minutes later)
The UK's chief medical officer Dame Sally Davies has said there "is a limited public health risk" if the drug phenylbutazone, or "bute", is found in beef products that have been adulterated with horsemeat. The UK's chief medical officer, Dame Sally Davies, has said there is a "limited public health risk" if the drug phenylbutazone, or "bute", is found in beef products that have been adulterated with horsemeat.
In her first public statement during the crisis, Davies reiterated the message of ministers that there was no health risk from horsemeat itself, but also sought to allay concerns over any potential harm from bute, which is banned in food. In her first public statement during the crisis, Davies reiterated the message of ministers that there was no health risk from horsemeat itself but also sought to allay concerns over any potential harm from bute, which is banned in food.
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has ordered further tests on adulterated products for any evidence of the equine anti-inflammatory and last week said consumers should not eat possibly tainted Findus beef lasagne bought before it was removed from shelves because it had not been tested for bute. The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has ordered further tests on adulterated products for any evidence of the equine anti-inflammatory, and last week said consumers should not eat Findus beef lasagne bought before it was removed from shelves because it had not been tested for bute.
Davies joined attempts to reassure the public as authorities in Romania began investigating possible involvement of companies there in the growing pan-European scandal and butchers reported a spike in business as concerns mounted over the authenticity of processed meat. Davies joined attempts to reassure the public as the authorities in Romania began investigating possible involvement of companies there in the growing pan-European scandal, and butchers reported a spike in business as concerns mounted over processed meat.
The environment secretary, Owen Paterson, who has already warned thousands of tests conducted this week might find "there is a substance which is injurious to human health", told BBC Breakfast on Monday. "The FSA's clear advice is to continue buying and eating all the products for sale." The environment secretary, Owen Paterson, who has already warned that thousands of tests conducted this week may find "there is a substance which is injurious to human health", told BBC Breakfast: "The FSA's clear advice is to continue buying and eating all the products for sale.
Paterson said: "Should evidence come forward of any serious threat to health obviously we will react very swiftly, and that could mean action on imports. But at the moment, all the evidence is that these products are entirely safe and people are open to eat them if they are advised so by the FSA – and they are." "Should evidence come forward of any serious threat to health, obviously we will react very swiftly, and that could mean action on imports. But at the moment, all the evidence is that these products are entirely safe and people are open to eat them if they are advised so by the FSA – and they are."
Davies said: "We are working closely with the FSA and Defra (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) to investigate how horsemeat got into the UK food chain. There is nothing to suggest a safety risk to consumers who may have eaten the products. All of the retailers involved so far have removed potentially affected products from their shelves. Davies said: "We are working closely with the FSA and Defra [the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs] to investigate how horsemeat got into the UK food chain. There is nothing to suggest a safety risk to consumers who may have eaten the products. All of the retailers involved so far have removed potentially affected products from their shelves.
"Phenylbutazone is used in some people who suffer from ankylosing spondylitis, a type of arthritis," said Davies. "However, there are international checks to prevent phenylbutazone from entering the food chain because there is a low risk of serious effects – such as aplastic anaemia [bone marrow failure] – in some people. As such, it presents a limited public health risk and CMO supports the FSA advice that it should be excluded from the food chain.""Phenylbutazone is used in some people who suffer from ankylosing spondylitis, a type of arthritis," said Davies. "However, there are international checks to prevent phenylbutazone from entering the food chain because there is a low risk of serious effects – such as aplastic anaemia [bone marrow failure] – in some people. As such, it presents a limited public health risk and CMO supports the FSA advice that it should be excluded from the food chain."
With the health department saying Davies's statement was intended to put concerns over bute "in context", the chief medical officer said there was "currently no indication" bute was present in any product so far identified in the UK. "It's understandable that people will be concerned, but it is important to emphasise that even if bute is found to be present at low levels, there is a very low risk indeed that it would cause any harm to health," she said.With the health department saying Davies's statement was intended to put concerns over bute "in context", the chief medical officer said there was "currently no indication" bute was present in any product so far identified in the UK. "It's understandable that people will be concerned, but it is important to emphasise that even if bute is found to be present at low levels, there is a very low risk indeed that it would cause any harm to health," she said.
Brindon Addy, chairman of the Q Guild representing 130 butchers across England, Scotland and Wales, said: "There has definitely been a spike in sales for the high street butcher in recent weeks, some are saying by as much as 20-30%. Brindon Addy, chairman of the Q Guild, which represents 130 butchers across England, Scotland and Wales, said: "There has definitely been a spike in sales for the high street butcher in recent weeks, some are saying by as much as 20-30%.
"It is obviously great news for those butchers who have found it difficult to compete with the big supermarkets in the past. People slip into the convenience of supermarket shopping, but whenever there is a scare – be it horsemeat or BSE – they always come back.""It is obviously great news for those butchers who have found it difficult to compete with the big supermarkets in the past. People slip into the convenience of supermarket shopping, but whenever there is a scare – be it horsemeat or BSE – they always come back."