MEAT SUPPLIER INVESTIGATED OVER HYGIENE DURING DELIVERIES
Be the first reader to comment on this story

EXCLUSIVE
BY NEIL MILLARD
NEIL.MILLARD@ESSNMEDIA.CO.UK

09:00 - 09 May 2008

A meat supplier is being investigated by environmental health officers after the Advertiser caught it delivering carcasses with dubious standards of care.

Our photographer spotted meat being dragged along the floor of a lorry as it was dropped off at a butchers in Thornton Heath.

At the same time the driver was walking on the floor in the same footwear he had been using to drive the vehicle and walk in the street.

The hygiene standards of the Amar Halal Meat Company are now being investigated and a spokesman for the Food Standards Agency confirmed the practice (pictured) was not ideal.

He said: "In general terms, unprotected meat carcasses should not be placed on the unprotected floor of a vehicle on which people walk in their street footwear.

"However, it is for the local authority to determine what has happened."

Croydon Council immediately launched an investigation after the Advertiser passed over the pictures.

They show the company delivering to Zenith Halal Butchers, in Thornton Heath High Street.

The butchers said it had stopped using the company after it caught its staff dumping meat on the floor around the same time as our photographer took the pictures.

Ali Javaid, manager of the shop, said: "I just said to them I had found cheaper prices and good quality so they didn't feel bad.

"It did bother me. It did upset me. When I saw it I told them not to put it on the floor.

"I have other suppliers anyway. Everybody round here knows, and I have got certificates to prove it, that my meat is the best quality."

Our photographer Martin Pitchley watched the company at work.

He said: "The meat was exposed to the elements and everything on the bottom of their shoes. I just thought it was absolutely disgusting that the meat was being treated this way.

"What was worse was seeing the driver of the lorry get out into the road and jump into the back of the van with no protective footwear and no gloves and chucking the meat on the floor."

Abdul Karam, owner of Amar Halal Meat Company, refuted the idea his meat was not delivered hygienically.

He said: "This is normal procedure. They can't take their shoes off when they go in the lorry.

"It's not dirty. The lorries are washed every morning before they're loaded, then again afterwards when they have finished."

Asked whether the meat should have been dumped on the floor of the truck, he answered: "Yes. Otherwise how can we load it and unload it?"

As for the environmental health inspectors' investigation, he said: "They can come down any time."

According to the Food Standards Agency, guidelines for the transportation of meat include taking care not to contaminate animal products.

A spokeswoman for Croydon Council said: "We thank the Advertiser for bringing this to our attention.

"We have launched an investigation and will be reminding those concerned of their health and safety obligations."

Trust.

Theres a kebabish I used to eat at just down the road from me, the people there are cool bring customers to my workplace every now and then. Was out on the road having a break when they pulled up with a, ''delivery''... they drove up in some run down car opened the boot and dragged a bag of chicken bits straight out of it, was wrapped in cling film, raw, out of the boot with what ever else was in there. Just the other day they pulled up in a 4x4 and did the same, dragged the stuff out of the boot like you would furniture or something.

Call it Dehli belly.

Seeing the meat being transported this way wouldn't put me off. I only purchase Halal meat-I can't take all the blood in none halal meat-and I like the idea that someone gave thanks after the killing of it.

Infact one of the butchers I use transport the meat in this way (on the floor of a van)

But the meat is covered in natures wrapping (fat) which halal butchers remove before sale. (which means unlike in a non-halal butchers you pay for 2lb of meat and not 1lb of meat and the rest fat, you have to remove yourself.)

Rice is grown in paddy fields man woman and child, spend an whole day in those same fields to harvest, pissing and spitting and god knows whatelse.

Vegtables are grown in dirt and if not covered in animal shit, then soaked in chemicals.

And all of you at some point must have observed saltfish in its production and transportation.

Where did you get the article from?

Vezz: unfortunately I don't think it matters where you get it from, even big companies have dubious hygiene practice.... I lost count of the number times I have been in certain big chains and their meat that is supposed to be in date..is turning a funny colour already..or it has mouldy bit hanging off it...

for example I don't buy meat from Netto or Lindl...and even if I'm buying meat from Tesco or Sainsburys trust me I look at it hard BEFORE i buy it....the Stabdards period are BAD these days..

well all i know the asian butchers we use is clean and that is what matters. they even moved to a more spacious property.