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Written by Reports today that 60% of the 139 meat products tested in a study undertaken by the University of Stellenbosch contain ‘undeclared ingredients’, including donkey, water buffalo, goat and pork, emphasise the need for the establishment of a single Food Agency as a matter of urgency.
At a joint meeting of the portfolio committees of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Health and Trade and Industry last month, it was agreed in principal that a single Food Agency should be established to regulate, enforce and inspect meat and other food items.
The DA will request that a follow up meeting of this joint-committee be organised as soon as possible so that an update on what steps have been taken to establish this agency can be provided, as well as what deadlines have been set.
Furthermore, I will submit parliamentary questions to ascertain in advance why the ratio of undisclosed trace ingredients are not being tested, and what steps are being taken in the interim to ensure product safety.
The Department of Health’s own findings into the meat labelling scandal also need to be tabled before Parliament so that it can be fully scrutinised and debated.
The mislabelling of products not only has possible health implications, but it has the potential to undermine the reputation of South African exports and cost our economy jobs. It also has a significant impact on religious communities who refrain from eating certain products, not to mention the increased price the consumer is paying for substitute ingredients.
Parliament must do everything possible to ensure that government establishes a single Food Agency to tackle this problem and prevent it from re-occurring, so that South Africans can rest assured that they know what they are eating.
Annette Steyn, Shadow Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
