At the end of October, soldiers from 30 different countries gather to practice war games in Norway.They have their own food.The Norwegian Food Safety Authority is worried about what is contained in the load.
“Yes, we are worried,” said senior adviser in Mattilsynet, Elisabeth Schei-Berg to NRK news.
There are a total of 40,000 soldiers involved in the Nato Exercise,Trident Juncture from October 25 to November 7, mainly in central Norway.The Norwegian Food Safety Authority estimates that it is highly likely that they will bring animal food, and fear is that some of this will be infected with, for example,African swine fever or foot-and-mouth disease, which is among the diseases the Norwegian Food Safety Authority fear most in Norway.
These are easily spread across borders with meat products, personnel and objects that have been in contact with contaminated animal environments.Residues that are not eaten can be thrown into nature,eaten by Norwegian animals on pasture and spread in that way.
The consequences could be dire.
‘’Animals must be killed, animal husbandry must be cleaned and equipment destroyed.This is work that will take a long time,there could be major suffering and, not least, major socioeconomic consequences” said Schei-Berg.
Major Rune Kvam has given assurances that the military have taken a number of measures, including the disinfection of vehicles shipped into the country. There is also source sorting for foreign food.
According to Mattilsynet, Norway has not previously received any infection with such exercises, but it has happened in other countries.
© NTB scanpix / #Norway Today
