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James Debono
The Department of Health is investigating abuses in the labelling of imported frozen chicken products in the past month, where various irregularities have been found, after frozen chicken was being thawed and resold as “fresh”.
According to findings by Egon Samler, an official from the United Nation’s Food and Agricultural Organisation, Malta’s health department has been quoted as saying that imported frozen meat is “sometimes thawed and sold as fresh.”
The findings, presented during an FAO seminar in October on Maltese agriculture, came with a recommendation from Samler, calling on the health department to “keep up pressure on those who infringe the law.”
Thawed frozen products pose serious health risks to consumers deceived into thinking that they are buying fresh products. Standard food hygiene demands that frozen products are cooked immediately after thawing. Re-freezing thawed products exposes consumers to food poisoning.
A health ministry spokesperson has confirmed with MaltaToday that “investigations have uncovered various irregularities with respect to legislation under the Food Safety Act and legal action will be initiated accordingly.”
But the spokesperson refused to reveal further details, “not to endanger current investigations.”
The practice of thawing frozen products sold as fresh local produce is undermining local poultry producers in their attempt to compete with cutthroat foreign competition.
The same FAO presentation shows that in 2004, poultry slaughtering in Malta decreased by 17 per cent. For the past months local chicken producers have also lamented that labelling regulations are not being adhered to, misleading consumers into buying imported products instead of local products.
In the wake of the avian flu menace, consumers have shifted back to their trusted local brands, a blessing in disguise for a bludgeoned local industry. But according to industry sources, abuses in labelling regulations have eroded these gains.
On 16 November, sister newspaper paper Business Today revealed that the health department was investigating breaches in labelling regulations. Yet more than a month later, the ministry’s spokesperson could still not verify the “alleged reports” as “investigations are still ongoing.”
But the government is giving weight to these reports and the ministry is considering introducing new legislation to ensure tighter enforcement.
jdebono@mediatoday.com.mt
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