A New Zealand Food Safety Authority operation to check the sourcing of chicken sold in Auckland restaurants and takeaway outlets has produced positive results, despite public concerns of food businesses buying illegally slaughtered birds from poultry farms.
NZFSA Assistant Director of Response Glen Neal said that all 25 businesses visited during the two-day operation had bought their chicken from legitimate sources.
According to Mr Neal, food-borne pathogens were a bigger threat to the poultry and food service industries.
“No consumer should be put at risk by eating chicken meat that hasn’t been processed in a way that manages the presence of harmful bacteria.”
The penalties for selling non-complying animal material or products in New Zealand include fines of up to $500,000 or a maximum two-year imprisonment.