The University of Queensland’s Gatton piggery has suspended the supply of pigs to market while it investigates concerns about possible rat poison contamination.

The suspension follows testing on the livers of five pigs which died during a seven-month period last year.

Tests found traces of coumatetralyl, the active ingredient in rat poison.

The poison was used by the university to control the rat population at the Gatton piggery until early September 2013.

The university’s acting Vice-Chancellor Alan Rix said the university was working with Safe Food Queensland and the Queensland Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Department on further testing and analysis.

“All rat poison has been removed from the Gatton piggery and the site has been thoroughly cleaned and disinfected,’’ Professor Rix said.

Queensland’s Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young said the risk to humans of eating pork from the piggery was negligible.

“This was my opinion when I was first informed of the issue and the results of testing since then have confirmed this view,’’ Dr Young said.

“There is no food recall for pork or pork products because there is no serious risk to humans.’’