A professor in meat science at the University of Stellenbosch has urged red meat producers to get their house in order before new consumer legislation comes into effect on 1 April.
“Traceability of food, for instance, is a requirement of the Act,” Prof Louw Hoffman said. “It should not be considered a marketing edge for producers. Detailed record keeping is of the essence and can’t be done on the back of a cigarette box any longer.”
Hoffman said red meat producers could learn a lot from the local game meat export industry. “Every kilogram of South African game meat exported to Europe can be accounted for and even traced back to the person who hunted or shot the animal. There is no reason why the red meat industry can’t follow suit. Remember, consumer awareness of animal welfare is a reality and should be taken seriously by producers.” – Annelie Coleman
