Govt acts on frozen chicken saga

The inspections, which were conducted by the Department of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries at the Supreme Poultry plant in Botshabelo, found that brine abuse is a threat to consumer safety.

Normally this method is only allowed on breast meat, the department said on Wednesday, 9 February 2011. Brine injection is, however, currently used on all portions of poultry meat.

The department said it realised over time that this technique is now being abused by injecting excessive quantities of brine, which range from 30% to 60% in individual quick frozen (IQF) portions.

Interim results from the Agricultural Research Council clearly indicate that brine injection of IQF chicken portions, as practised in South Africa, results in excessive moisture loss during defrosting and cooking of such meat.

The practice also results in nutrient dilution as demonstrated by the lower protein and energy content of the four commercially available IQF portions tested, compared to control portions known not to be injected with brine.

Supreme Poultry made headlines for allegedly thawing, washing, injecting, rebranding, then reselling the chickens with new expiry dates to shopping outlets.