Random meat testing mooted for SA

INLSA

File image - If government does not stop cowboys in the meat industry, the mislabelling of products will continue to go unchecked, the Red Meat Industry Forum told MPs.

Cape town - A probe by the National Consumer Commission (NCC) could include pulling meat off shop shelves for random testing, it was revealed on Thursday.

Speaking during a post-Cabinet meeting briefing, acting commissioner Ebrahim Mohamed said a NCC screening committee would meet on Thursday to discuss the scope of the investigation into the incorrect labelling of meat products.

Mohamed was tasked with probing the matter by Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies after the results of research by Stellenbosch University scientists were made public and discussed during Wednesday's Cabinet meeting.

According to the study, goat, water buffalo, and donkey meat had been found in food products, including sausages, “dried meats”, burger patties, and mincemeat.

“In other cases, even, undeclared plant matter was detected,” the university said on its news blog on Tuesday.

Mohamed said the NCC would have to do its own testing of products to determine the veracity of the claims made.

“I'm not aware how long it would take to get these products tested, but dependent on the outcome, certain actions will follow. We are going to push to get finality on the matter as soon as possible,” he said.

The investigation would start with retailers but would not end there.

“All those in the supply chain, in terms of the Consumer Protection Act, can be held responsible... and will be subject to this investigation.”

Asked for clarity on what sanctions could apply to those found to have incorrectly labelled products, Mohamed said it would be a matter for the Consumer Tribunal to decide.

“If it is found that companies, businesses, producers, manufacturers, retailers, and so on, are non-compliant, I think the approach would first be to get them to comply, give them deadlines to comply.”

Should this not work, the NCC would approach the Consumer Tribunal.

“If they do not then comply with provisions of the compliance notices they would be taken to the Consumer Tribunal for sanction... where administrative fines can be imposed.”

The commission could also approach the tribunal to ask that the conduct of non-compliant companies be declared “prohibited”.

“This will allow consumers to then access redress where they themselves have purchased products which have not been properly labelled,” said Mohamed. - Sapa