Bird flu fears in Europe could boost SA ostrich meat exports

The recent occurrence of the avian influenza A (H5N1) virus in Europe’s poultry flocks could open the door for increased exports of locally produced, heat-treated ostrich meat.

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According to Johan Stumpf, managing director of Klein Karoo International (KKI), the largest processor and exporter of ostrich products from SA, the focus on avian influenza (AI) as a food safety factor would increase and this could improve the demand for pre-cooked products that were guaranteed to be free of AI.

KKI started producing pre-heated ostrich meat products when the EU placed a ban on raw meat exports from South Africa after an outbreak of H2N1 in 2011.

The SA ostrich industry had already started receiving enquiries from retailers in Europe, said Stumpf.

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