Halal Food Authority :: DNA in Chicken

HFA asks for temporary ban on Chicken Fillets from Holland.

Masood Khawaja, President of the Halal Food Authority, has expressed concern over the presence of bovine and porcine proteins in chicken breast fillets, imported from Holland that were confirmed to be positive subsequent to tests carried out by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland These fillets are mainly used in catering trade, but small proportion is also being sold to consumers at retail level through butcher shops. The finding has raised fears of possible BSE in chicken, which may pass on humans as vCJD.

The Dutch poultry industry uses water and various additives such as proteins to bulk up chicken. The protein bind in water. The Irish agency also found that some sample tested contained pig protein while labelled as halal.

Mr Khawaja has asked Food Standards Agencies both in the UK and Ireland to stop import of such fillets until they are clearly marked of their water and protein contents, highlighting its origin, whether bovine (cattle) or porcine (pig) origin.

Masood Khawaja
President
Halal Food Authority
109 Fulham Palace Road
London W6 8JA
www.halalfoodauthority.com

24th May 2002