RED MEAT INDUSTRY FORUM’S VIEW ON CARTE BLANCHE MEAT PRODUCT RELABELING REPORT

The Red Meat Industry Forum has noted with concern the content of the Carte Blanche report in regard to some Meat World branches allegedly re-labelling expired meat products and unacceptable levels of E.Coli found in tested products. Food premises are regulated by R962 (dated Nov 2012) of the Foodstuffs, Cosmetics and Disinfectants Act, 1972 (Act 54 of 1972) under the mandate of the Department of Health. These regulations are applied by local and municipal authorities through Environmental Health Practitioners visiting the premises and issuing Certificates of Acceptability (R362) to ensure compliance to these guidelines. It is expected of the person in charge to follow the best available methods to evaluate food hygiene standards. These regulations do provide for repacking products under specified circumstances.  Read more …