The UK pig industry is calling for urgent action after products linked to a Vietnamese company suspected of using pork infected with African swine fever (ASF) were found to be on sale in the UK.
The National Pig Association (NPA) said it was deeply concerned to learn that Halon Canned Food JSC’s product, known as Halon Canfoco, had recently become available through retailers in the UK.
Although ASF does not pose a risk to human health, it is a highly contagious and often fatal disease for pigs, and an outbreak could have devastating consequences for the UK’s pig herd.
Vietnamese media reported that investigators discovered that the company was using pork that tested positive for ASF in its canned patties.
The incident reportedly began in September last year when authorities discovered two trucks transporting 1.2 tonnes of pork of unknown origin, which later tested positive for the virus.
Investigators are said to have found about 130 tonnes of frozen, diseased pork stored in the company’s warehouses, and reports say thousands of cans of patty were made using contaminated raw materials.
Other products, including spring rolls, have also reportedly tested positive for ASF, and separate tests have found frozen pork and chicken skin to be contaminated with salmonella, raising concerns about food safety.
The findings were particularly worrying as it emerged that the company’s products had been on sale in the UK until just a few weeks ago.
A Google search revealed that Huong canned patties and other pork products can be purchased at Huong Viet Asian Supermarket.
Contacted by Pigworld, a spokesperson for the retailer said: “Since this news broke, we have removed all products from our stores and online.”
The company said it learned about the incident through Vietnamese media about three weeks ago and immediately decided to recall the product.
There is no evidence that the retailer engaged in any inappropriate behavior, and the National Police Agency and other authorities welcome the swift response.
However, the incident raises serious questions about how such products entered the UK market, especially given Defra’s confirmation that Vietnam is not authorized to export fresh or cooked pork to the UK.
Tony Goodger, head of marketing and communications at the Association of Independent Meat Suppliers (AIMS), said they passed the information to the Food Standards Agency after confirming that there appeared to be a product available.
“We seem to be letting biosecurity in this country take its course,” he said.
Mr Goodger warned that the full scope of potentially contaminated products in the UK remains unknown, adding: “At this time we have no idea of the full scope of potentially contaminated products in the UK, how long they have been on sale to consumers, their batch codes or where else they are sold.”
He said the incident highlighted the need for stronger monitoring and faster information sharing with countries exporting products to the UK.
NPA chief executive Lizzie Wilson said the information raises major concerns about the UK’s disease prevention efforts.
“Previous large-scale disease outbreaks are well known to be associated with domestic and wild pigs accessing infected meat imported from other countries,” she said.
He said it was “very concerning” that products from a company recently found to have used ASF-infected meat were available in the UK, adding: “We need to know how widely and for how long these products have been sold in the UK and whether any potentially infected meat is still available.”
Mr Wilson said the NPA supports calls for governments to strengthen international intelligence gathering and avoid weakening border controls in future trade deals.
The Food Standards Agency said it was aware of the issue.
A spokesperson said: “We are aware of this issue and have shared it with the relevant authorities so that together we can assess this matter and take appropriate follow-up action if necessary.”
Defra said it could not comment on specific cases, but stressed that all shipments of meat products must enter the UK through border controls and will be inspected to ensure import conditions are met.
There is no outbreak of ASF in the UK and industry leaders have repeatedly warned that strong border controls and public awareness are essential to keep the disease out of the country.
