South Africa facing recycled chicken scandal

The South African health department is being urged to lead a probe into the recent revelations of the practice of recycling chicken past its sell by date, South African news agencies are reporting.

It was revealed last week that some poultry manufacturers would take expired chicken, wash it, inject it with brine and re-introduce it into the retail chain. This practice is apparently legal in the country, but has raised concerns over the quality and safety of food sold to the general public.

Leader of the South African Communist Party Blade Nzimande said : “The department of health as well as the department of trade and industry must institute investigation into the matter. It is a criminal activity”.

However, the company at the centre of the revelations, Supreme Polurty said in its defence that the practice was conducted “in accordance with the protocols as dictated by the department of agriculture”.