A recent study by Stellenbosch University has revealed that there are a fair share of fraudulent meat products on the South African market.
The study found that anything from soya, donkey, goat and water buffalo were found in up to 68 percent of the 139 minced meats, burger patties, deli meats, sausages and dried meats tested.
The study was published in the international Food Control journal and was done by Dr Donna-Maree Cawthorn and Professor Louw Hoffman.
Hoffman told Algoa FM News that these products were not adhering to legislation in terms of labeling regulations.
He says one of the biggest problems they encountered was on the plant proteins, mainly soya and glutin and they could allergens. "So, anyone who is allergic to glutin or soya will have a problem eating the meat product that contains it."
Louw added that they did not find unexpected animal proteins in the products that had been examined, with the exception of one case of donkey meat in a sausage tested in Kwazulu Natal.
He says most of the animal proteins, like chicken and pork, were expected to be found in beef sausages.
"These aren't illegal. What is illegal is the fact that they weren't indicated as being present in the sausages or the patty or the mince. That's the part that we're worried about," he added.
"I think these are all okay to consume. The problem lies is that you as a consumer should have the right to decide whether I want to eat chicken or pork in my beef sausage."
