The contamination scare that enveloped the pig industry this month was scary in many ways - for consumers who were being told they were consuming dioxins, for producers who saw their livelihoods coming up to Christmas ruined, for industry workers losing jobs and for every other food producer seeing how events can overwhelm an industry even when that industry is abiding by all the rules and regulations.
Whatever the final report on the entry of the contaminants into the human food chain it is a very unwelcome surprise for Ireland this Christmas to have a food crisis on top of a recession and a banking crisis. Aidan Cotter, Chief Executive of Bord Bia, said he had full confidence in the authorities and recovery would be helped by the speed with which the authorities reacted.
It is to be hoped that the industry does recover quickly from the crisis and that full confidence in the pork products is restored as quick as possible.
It is notable how the food island approach has left the whole food sector exposed to doubt by consumers both in Ireland and other markets.
Let's hope that the crises of 2008 fade in the mind like snow of the proverbial ditch.
