WHERE’S the beef — or at least the signs showing where it is from? Many of Dublin’s eateries, from award-winning posh restaurants down to fast-food joints, are flouting a regulation that requires them to display the source country of their beef.

A Sunday Times survey last week found that more than one-third of 52 restaurants in the capital are not identifying the country of origin of the meat on their menus, despite being obliged to do so since July.

La Stampa, Citron and Trocadero, as well as branches of take-away chains such as Burger King, Abrakebabra and Subway, were among those identified as being non-compliant.

The regulations, described as “important” by Mary Coughlan, the minister for agriculture and food when she announced them in June, extended beef labelling regulations that applied to butchers and supermarkets to any hotel, restaurant or pub serving “prepared beef”.

Coughlan said she wanted the public to be given “the maximum amount of information on food at all points of sale so they can be reassured about the origin and the quality as well as the safety of the products they are purchasing and consuming”.

The news does not seem to have travelled far. Truman’s, a few doors up from Coughlan’s offices on Kildare Street, is among those not complying. Others said they were not aware of the legislation.

Laurent Walter, manager of La Stampa, was shocked when the omission was pointed out to him. “I was unaware about this. From Tuesday we will have a new menu that will mention our beef is Irish,” he promised.

Rhona Teehan, owner of the Trocadero, said: “I guess we’re just a bit slow catching up. But with the next change of menus I guess we will have to put all our sources on it. We haven’t bought anything but Irish beef for 23 years.” The Hairy Lemon pub also said it was unaware of the regulation, but said the beef it served was Irish.

Other non-displaying restaurants — Wagamama noodle bar, Chanze Chinese restaurant and Botticelli in Temple Bar — also vowed the country of origin label would go on menus when new ones were printed. An offence under the regulations could lead to prosecution.

Elephant & Castle in Temple Bar did not display the source of its beef even though Jack Duffy, the head chef, said he had been aware of the regulations since July. “Our butcher farms all the beef in Offaly and he is in the process of doing up a certificate to put in the window,” he said.

“I don’t know how it slipped through but I’m chasing that up at present.”

Kevin Thornton does not display the country of origin of beef on the menu of his eponymous Michelin-starred restaurant because he says his customers know where it comes from and “we have papers to back it up”.

“We are aware of the regulations,” he added. “We know exactly where everything comes from. I don’t care what the regulations say. People can lie through their teeth. You should be looking for certificates to back it up rather than just say they have to write it on the menu. It means nothing.”

The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) is responsible for enforcing the regulations in more than 29,000 food service businesses around the country. Alan Reilly, its deputy chief executive, said the priority was that the food served in restaurants was safe. “It is unreasonable to expect full compliance in three months. We are putting together written guidance both for the inspectors and the catering sector that will be distributed explaining what is required under the law,” he said.

The restaurants' excuses

‘We weren’t aware of the regulations’

La Stampa, Trocadero, The Hairy Lemon

Nothing to say or not available for comment

Subway, Siam Thai, Le Caprice, New Millennium, Trumans, Milano, Bocca, Abrakebabra, Burger King, Thunder Road Cafe

‘It will certainly feature on our new menus’

Chanze, Wagamama Noodle Bar, Citron, Botticelli, Elephant & Castle

‘The regulations stink’

Trocadero

Times Recommends

• Michael Jackson: Not the final chapter
• Indian Army spends10m rupees on golf buggies
• Brüno toned down for 15 rating