The Irish Hotels Federation (IHF) has strongly criticised the Irish Farmers Association's - DNA Test Report on Beef Origin stating that the results are flawed. The IHF also calls into question the methods of the investigation itself and the clandestine manner in which it was conducted.

Commenting on the report John Power, Chief Executive of the IHF said "I have spoken to all of the hotels in question and have been assured that the beef for sale in their premises has been purchased as Irish. I do not know how the IFA conducted their investigation but hoteliers were not informed that this was taking place in their hotels and were not given a sample to have independently verified. It is unacceptable for an organisation to conduct such a clandestine investigation without involving the hotels in question. Irish hotels have always been excellent purchasers and promoters of Irish beef but this type of unscientific sampling without any form of verification or independent control makes a mockery of the proper channels and procedures which are used by health boards, the Food Safety Authority and other bodies in their fully audited and controlled work."