'If there is an Irish Tricolour on a product does it mean it was sourced in Ireland? Absolutely not': where does our food really come from?
Irish consumers are increasingly buying ready-made meals that can range from premium produce to high-fat, high-sugar, nutritionally poor offerings.
A recent nationwide product recall after an 'extremely rare' outbreak of listeriosis in a major manufacturer has raised valid questions about the food we consume.
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RTÉ News
17 minutes ago
- RTÉ News
Coriander and hummus products recalled over listeria concerns
The Food Safety Authority of Ireland has issued a recall alert for a number of potted coriander products along with a single hummus product due to the possible presence of listeria monocytogenes. The recall affects nine potted coriander products provided by O'Hanlon Herbs to a range of major supermarkets including Aldi, Tesco, Dunnes Stores, Lidl, Marks & Spencer and Supervalu. The affected coriander products are: Aldi: Egans Potted Coriander, Batches 273, 275, Display Until Dates - 05/08/2025, 06/08/2025, 07/08/2025, 08/08/2025, 09/08/2025, 10/08/2025, 11/08/2025 Tesco: Tesco Growing Herb Coriander, Batches 273, 275, Display Until Dates - 03/08/2025, 04/08/2025, 05/08/2025, 06/08/2025, 07/08/2025, 08/08/2025, 09/08/2025 Dunnes Stores: O'Hanlon Herbs Potted Coriander, Batches 273, 275, 277, 283, Display Until Dates - 03/08/2025, 05/08/2025, 06/08/2025, 07/08/2025, 08/08/2025, 09/08/2025, 10/08/2025 Dunnes Stores: O'Hanlon Herbs Compostable Potted Coriander, Batches 273, 275, 277, Display Until Dates - 03/08/2025, 05/08/2025, 06/08/2025, 07/08/2025, 08/08/2025, 09/08/2025, 10/08/2025 Nolans: O'Hanlon Herbs Potted Coriander, Batch 273, Display Until Date - 07/08/2025 Mortons: O'Hanlon Herbs Potted Coriander, Batch 273, Display Until Date - 07/08/2025 Marks & Spencer: M&S Irish Coriander, Batches 273, 275, Display Until Date- 06/08/2025, 09/08/2025 Lidl: O'Hanlon Herbs Potted Coriander, Batches 273, 275, 277, Display Until Date - L3104, L3105, L3106, L3107, L3201 Supervalu: Supervalu Irish Coriander, Batches 273, 275, 277, 283, Display Until Date - 1M0308P1, 1M0408P1, 1M0508P1, 1M0608P1, 1M0708P1, 1M0808P1, 1M0908P1, 1M1008P1 The FSAI has also issued a recall notice for a batch of Tom & Ollie Traditional Hummus due to the possible presence of listeria monocytogenes. The affected product is a 150g pack of Tom & Ollie Traditional Hummus with batch code VG189 and a use by date of 8 August. Consumers are advised not to eat any of the implicated products. The FSAI has requested that retailers remove the products from sale, and display recall notices at point-of-sale. It has also requested that wholesalers contact affected customers, recall the relevant batch and provide a point-of-sale recall notice to their retailer customers. Caterers who may be in possession of the impacted products have been asked not to use them. The FSAI said that symptoms of listeria can include mild flu-like symptoms such as gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. Symptoms can be more severe in rare cases, it added. Last week, batches of eight spinach, mixed leaves, rocket and lettuce products sold in Irish supermarkets were recalled due to the detection of listeria monocytogenes. Two further spinach products sold in Irish supermarkets were recalled in late July with seven spinach and mixed leaves products having been recalled previously. Over 200 ready-made meals produced by Ballymaguire Foods were also recalled last month.
The Journal
17 minutes ago
- The Journal
Irish business ties to Haiti could be key to securing release of kidnapped missionary Gena Heraty
AS IRISH DIPLOMATS work to find a way to free aid worker Gena Heraty in Haiti, the Caribbean country remains in the grip of a gang war. Significant Irish business connections in Haiti may be the key to securing the Irish missionary's release, sources have told The Journal. There are extensive Irish interests in the region. There is also a significant presence of Irish security personnel who are working for commercial enterprises. Some of those working in the area are former members of the Irish Defence Forces and others have worked for other State agencies – they are joined by other international colleagues working in security operations. A security source said that these ties may provide the answer to resolving the kidnapping such is the extent of their presence in the area. The Journal has reported extensively on the horror in Port au Prince and across the Caribbean state. One security source in the Caribbean and Latin America region said there has been a large increase in kidnappings as it is seen as an easy earner for the gang members who are now believed to control 90% of Port au Prince and its surrounds. Irish diplomacy has a small footprint in the region and their diplomatic efforts are largely handled through the United Nations in New York. There is no Irish consulate in Port au Prince. It is understood that an Emergency Consular Assistance Team (ECAT) has not been stood up by the Department of Foreign Affairs. ECAT teams – generally made up of experienced diplomats and Defence Forces members such as the Army Ranger Wing – are sometimes sent in to trouble spots to provide emergency evacuations of Irish citizens, and can also be deployed in hostage situations. Instead the Department of Foreign Affairs is anticipated to use the Irish connections with a strong base in the area to make contact with the gangs and to find a way to free Gena Heraty. Societal collapse Port au Prince is the size of Dublin with 1.2 million people living there and most are in desperate need of humanitarian help. There has been a collapse in Haitian society in recent years as gangs seek to take over the impoverished island nation. Reports from Haiti have said that there is widespread violence which includes systematic sexual violence against, children and adult women and men. A Kenyan deployment last year of hundreds of police officers to Haiti in a US-funded and UN-backed mission to help local law enforcement secure the country has struggled to make progress. A file image of children with their faces covered marching alongside gang boss 'Barbecue' in Port-au- Prince, Haiti. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo 'Barbecue' and Viv Ansanm There are multiple gangs but the largest, Viv Ansanm, came about through an alliance between the two main factions operating in Port-au-Prince, G-9 and G-Pèp. Advertisement Last month the UN Security Council was told by Ghada Fathi Waly , Executive Director of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), that 90% of Port au Prince was in control of the gangs. 'As gang control expands, the state's capacity to govern is rapidly shrinking, with social, economic and security implications. This erosion of state legitimacy has cascading effects,' Waly told the UN. The key issue is that these gangs control major trade routes and are able to turn off the supply of food and other humanitarian supplies. Kidnapping Gena Heraty was abducted along with seven others, including a three-year-old child, from the Sainte-Hélène orphanage in Kenscoff, Haiti, over the weekend. The incident saw gang leaders in the early hours of the morning breaking down a wall into her compound and seizing her and her colleagues. It not her first time being the victim of conflict in the area and Gena previously was injured in an attack. Kenscoff is located 10 kilometres to the south of the capital Port au Prince – this area of the country is controlled by Viv Ansanm. While there has been no official confirmation, multiple security sources in Haiti told The Journal that they believe it is Viv Ansanm that has taken Gena Heraty. The gang is run by a notorious Haitian war lord and former police officer Jimmy Chérizier – ominously known as 'Barbeque'. His goal is to take over the country and run it as his own state. Viv Ansanm has rifles and heavy weaponry supplied by Florida based weapons dealers – this has been confirmed by the markings on seized firearms. Jimmy Cherizier, aka Barbecue with masked gunmen in Port au Prince. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo Looting of aid convoys The United Nations has said that the gang members, some of whom are armed children, have been participating in looting of aid convoys, hospitals and pharmacies. They have also been fighting pitched battles with Government and Kenyan forces – taking over largescale infrastructure such as the port and roads to the airport. The most horrific attacks have been perpetrated on the Haitian population, with mass killings against locals common as gangs move through communities. News agency AFP said the kidnapped Irishwoman, originally from Co Mayo, made connection by phone with her French based charity at the Sainte-Helene orphanage after being abducted. The facility is operated by humanitarian organisation Nos Petits Frères et Sœurs (Our Little Brothers and Sisters). That charity is headquartered in the eastern suburbs of the French capital Paris. Security sources said that this may lead to military involvement from French military special forces but noted that a mission would not be without significant risk both for the commandos carrying out the rescue and the hostages. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
The National
24 minutes ago
- The National
Edinburgh pub launches £7k Boston holiday giveaway
The Boston Bar, an Irish-American establishment, is offering punters the chance to win a three-night-stay in Boston worth £7000 to mark the opening of its new basement space, Downtown. The trip includes return flights from Edinburgh, a four-star hotel, curated experiences and a food and drink allowance for the winner and a plus one. READ MORE: Spider-Man wows crowds with stunts during blockbuster filming on city streets Downtown is said to be inspired by the 'traditional Irish pubs of Donegal' and the 'buzzing bar culture' of Boston. Owner Edward Fox said: 'We wanted Downtown to feel like a little slice of my wife's homeland, Donegal, in the heart of Edinburgh, but with a nod to Boston's gritty charm. 'It's a space that's warm, welcoming and full of life – somewhere you can pop in for a quiet drink or make a night of it. The Boston trip giveaway felt like the perfect way to celebrate this next chapter for the bar.' The interiors of the new space blend dark wood, exposed sandstone walls and antiques sourced from Ireland, the USA and local auction houses. Downtown shows a range of live Irish sports, including Gaelic football and hurling – a stick-and-ball game played by teams of 15. Live trad music sessions will be hosted in the venue on Mondays and Tuesdays from September 15, with Irish comedy nights set to be introduced from October. The space is available to book for private events for groups of 20-100 people and areas are available to book for group sports viewings and the food menu will be similar to its upstairs counterpart, featuring spice bags and Sunday roasts. READ MORE: Jousting event featuring Robert the Bruce to take place in Highland fortress Downtown also offers classic drinks like pints of Guiness and craft beers, as well as themed cocktails, such as the Galway Girl and Fenway Old Fashioned. To enter the competition for the Boston trip, participants must share the giveaway post on their Instagram story, tag a friend in the comment section and follow the bar's official account. Extra entries can be made by booking a table and visiting the Boston Bar before September 28. The winner will be announced on September 30 and must be able to travel between October 1 until December 31 2025.
