There’s widespread concern after a new study by food scientist Professor Louw Hoffman from Stellenbosch University’s Animal Sciences Department revealed there’s a fair amount of unspecified meat products on the South African market.

The study conducted across all provinces in South Africa analyzed the DNA of 139 meat products including mince, deli meats and burger patties and found up to 68% contained donkey, goat and water buffalo and these ingredients were not  declared on the packaging.

Speaking to Radio Islam’s Moulana Sulaimaan Ravat, Professor Hoffman said the study was prompted by the regulations of the new consumer act. He said they wanted to ascertain whether supermarkets and butcheries were including ingredients on the labels of products and if products were labeled correctly. “We strongly feel that the consumer has the right to know what he’s eating,” added Louw.

Hoffman said the traces of donkey meat in products was an isolated incident, however it was disconcerting that that there was not an abattoir that’s authorized to slaughter donkey’s, so where did the meat come from? He also said because there is no authorized abattoir means there are no inspections of the premises which could result in allergic reactions and diseases. On Water Buffalo, Hoffman said that it had been classified as bovine which indicates it could be used in beef sausages and patties.

In the study it was also indicated that traces of pork was found in the samples which is a massive concern for the Muslim community. Hoffman said that pork is standard in many non halaal certified products. However he reiterates that whether a person is Muslim or not, they should have the right know what ingredients are in the products. “Even more so if you are Muslim you would like to know whether there is pork in your product or not,” said Hoffman.

Hoffman emphasized its more of an issue of mislabeling or no labeling at all. He said in the study conducted there may have been some halaal samples but they were not specifically looking for whether the products were identified as halaal or not or contained traces of pork, but rather to see whats on the label.

Meanwhile the public relations officer of the South African National Halaal Authority (SANHA) Ebrahim Lockhat told Radio Islam that the organization is aware of the contamination of the meat and incorrect or no labeling of products and verified the claims.  

Lockhat said he will obtain a copy of the report to review it.He however cites a similar survey that was conducted by Professor Hoffman and his colleague Dr. Donna Cawthorn of the University of Stellenbosch in December 2012. In that survey 139 samples were also tested and the results revealed many irregularities.  A renowned consumer journalist, Wendy Knowler took the study of the 2012 meat samples even further and conducted her own testing.

Lockhat said that he contacted Cawthorn personally at the time and asked her for a copy of the report, to which she replied that her report was quoted in a conference and it was up to the university to release the report. However there were concerns that Muslims might be consuming products which might contain traces of unknown ingredients.

“So obviously my next question is, yes I see all that about labeling, but is there anything that on the halaal side that we need to know now as Muslims if somebody deliberately, accidentally, knowingly, unknowingly feeding haram ingredients in their (products), she said and I quote her, ‘she did not find anything on the halaal side’ said Lockhat.

He stressed that he doesn’t subscribe not to “name and shame”. “I think if there is a list of people that they survey, they must give them the opportunity to put it right and thereafter retest and do the findings rather than just generalizing. “So that’s my point on the professor’s report. I think it’s a good report, but it’s still generalized. We would like to see specifics,” said Lockhat.

“And perhaps we will heed and now not approve any imported meats. By the way SANHA doesn’t…We do not approve imported meat.  And also to be a little honest in our labeling, for example a simple ethical issue on mechanical poultry; we are not saying it is haraam, because by some people’s standards it is halaal. But we would like to see it on the labels. This is machine stock, so that I can exercise my choice as a consumer whether I buy the product or not, added Lokhart.

Its very reassuring to the Muslim public that the meat scandal although creating a stir in South Africa, the researchers indicate it does not impact on the halaal products that consumers are purchasing. When halaal certification bodies certify products they implement strict mechanisms to ensure that contamination of products does not occur.