By S, KNA
Butchery owners in Embu Town have launched a campaign against sale of unsafe, uninspected or illegally traded meat.
The move comes amid widespread concerns over unsafe meat flooding local markets with several reported cases of seizure of donkey meat on transit to unknown destinations within the county.
Meat traders through their newly formed Embu Town Butchers Association are seeking to promote safe and quality meat to safeguard the health of consumers.
Consequently, the association has rolled out a verification system using QR code assigned to all its registered members that customers can use to instantly verify whether the premise they are purchasing meat from is a member of the group.
The association Chair, Henry Mugambi said they had set strict hygiene standards for their products right from slaughter, inspection, transportation, storage and proper labelling for traceability.
“We want our customers to be certain that the meat they purchase from our members is of high quality and safe,” he said during a press briefing in Embu Town on Friday.
He added that the move will not only protect consumers, but also genuine traders who have been disadvantaged by rogue traders who sell substandard meat at a cheaper price.
The trader warned that such low prices could be a pointer that the meat may be coming from illegal or unregulated sources.
“Our focus is not so much on profitability, but ensuring the meat that we offer meets all the required hygiene and quality standards and that is why we have come up with a verification code for that purpose,” he said.
He advised customers to be vigilant during the upcoming Christmas and New Year festivities that are characterized by a lot of feasting where meat is usually the main delicacy.
The butchers further appealed to the county government to intensify surveillance and enforcement operations to weed out rogue meat traders from the market.
