RANGELAND FOODS HAS reopened its meat processing plant in Monaghan, saying that the company has been “the victim of fraud”.

The company voluntarily halted production at the factory after tests into a consignment of Polish beef found positive traces of horse DNA.

The company carried its own tests on the ingredient and informed the Department of Agriculture of the positive results last Thursday. The Department carried out further tests and received a positive result on Monday.

The company said the meat had never been used in any products.

“The Department of Agriculture has confirmed that they could see no reason why Rangeland Foods would not be in production,” the company said in a statement this evening, confirming that it had recommenced production.

CEO of Rangeland Foods Jim Lucey said the 30-year-old family business had been damaged by what had happened. In a statement, he said:

Rangeland has been the victim of fraud, and that fraud has caused huge reputational damage to our company.

We will now concentrate on securing the future of the 60-plus jobs that Rangeland provides in Monaghan.

Rangeland Food is a supplier to some fast food restaurants in Ireland.

Read: McAdam Foods “shocked” to discover equine content was in its meat products >

Read: “Somebody is selling rogue product, and somebody knows about it” – Coveney >

Read: What meat import is most frequently rejected by Ireland? >

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