No more poop on meat in slaughterhouses

The number of fines that inspectors from the Dutch Food and Consumer Safety Authority (NVWA) have distributed for poop on meat in slaughterhouses has more than doubled this year. No less than 49 fines were imposed between May 2017 and July 2018, reports RTL Nieuws

Food Security

In previous years, 39 fines were imposed, over a period of more than two years. NWVA also says that food security is not at stake.

Despite the fact that, according to the NVWA, there is no reason to doubt the safety of the meat, it asks slaughterhouses to work more neatly. "I think slaughterhouses should do their best," says NVWA director Jan Meijer: "Seemingly slaughterhouses paid less attention in 2017 than necessary."

Poo laundry with water

on the meat when the animal's intestines opened during slaughter.In theory, there is a stop button that can to be in a hurry to cut the contaminated pieces of meat. In practice, this happens according to a former employee of a slaughterhouse, which RTL -News has spoken, almost never. "Bosses only want production, it's just as fast as possible." He says the poop is sometimes washed away with water, which is not enough to clean the meat.

Other employees say that fallers often have too little experience. The high speed of the belt is also a problem. The animals are suspended on a treadmill and a slaughterer has about ten seconds to remove the intestines. If that does not work, you'll have shit on the meat.

Fines

The professional association of the industry VOC slaughter can not agree with this criticism. The fines for poop on meat can be raised to around 7500 euros. In case of contamination, corrective measures must be taken immediately.