A television programme called 'Operation X', shown on Danish TV2 on 5 February, focussed on whether pig protein had been added to marinaded chicken products. This resulted in rumours in an Arabic newspaper saying that Danish-produced chicken meat contained pig proteins.

The Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries has visited Denmark's poultry plants to control whether – against expectations – the rumours were true. The control was partly in the form of physical inspections of the businesses' warehouses, partly an inspection of the products themselves.

Pig protein was not found in any of the inspected samples and no pig protein was found during the physical inspection of the businesses' warehouses. The conclusion of the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration is therefore that pig-based ingredients are not used in Danish-made chicken products.

“I am glad to be able to say that the Danish chicken producers do not add pig protein to processed chicken products,” says Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries, Eva Kjær Hansen. “We have therefore confirmed our expectations that Danish businesses do not use this method of binding water in their products.”

A total of 38 samples were taken, including 14 immediately after the 'Operation X' TV programme; the others were taken as part of an ongoing inspection project before the programme was shown.

A study in 2005 also failed to find traces of pig protein in samples.