Poultry Meat Regulations: know what you are buying

POLOKWANE – The long anticipated amendments to the Poultry Meat Regulations regarding control over the sale of poultry have been approved by the department of agriculture, forestry and fisheries.

In a media statement, the department said these latest amendments include, among others, the following major changes for producers of both fresh and frozen poultry meat.

The total brine injection allowed for whole carcasses is limited to maximum 10% (versus the maximum of 8% that was previously prescribed). Total brine injection allowed for individual portions is limited to maximum 15% (no limit was previously prescribed).

“The product name shall include a true description of the added formulated solution, for example, ‘chicken with brine’, ‘sweet ‘n sour marinated chicken drumsticks’ etc,” read the statement.

“Producers must regularly perform tests to ensure compliance with the new water uptake and injection limits and must keep records thereof for at least one year. These amendments will be phased in over a period of six months to allow for producers to gradually adjust the levels of brine injection and to bring the labelling of these products in line with the new requirements.”

The department further said it remained committed to ensuring these regulations were enforced, the quality of poultry meat was maintained and that consumers were enabled to make informed decisions about the poultry meat products they bought.