South Africa’s Agency for Food Safety and Quality (AFSQ) issued a recall for imported eggs on August 30.
AFSQ has been selected by the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries to conduct inspections, grading and sampling of animal products to make sure guidelines set by the Agricultural Product Standards Act are being followed, Farmer’s Weekly reported.
Hennie Joubert, manager of poultry at AFSQ, told Farmer’s Weekly that a the recall had been issued on those imported eggs. The eggs did not pose a health risk. The recall was for labeling and classification issues.
Joubert explained in the report that once issues were resolved the eggs could be marketed again.
Christopher Mason, general manager of South Africa Poultry Association's Egg Organization, explained in the report that imported table eggs really aren’t needed. Local production has recovered after avian flu outbreaks, and Mason explained that they can meet the country's demands on their own.
South Africa egg producer associated with Bloemfontein Marco Torsius, a founding member of Toplay group, told Farmers Weekly that local producers are being affected by imports economically and such recalls could harm public perception of the egg industry.
Chicken industry recently experienced recalls
The South African recall follows other recalls in the U.S. and Canadian poultry industries.
Pinty’s Delicious Foods recalled products due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination.
According to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), the company recalled Pinty's brand Italian Style Chicken Schnitzel - Gluten Free Fully Cooked, Breaded and Seasoned Cutlettes from the marketplace following test results from the CFIA. The affected products came in 4 kilogram packages and carry the UPC code 10069094626371. They were distributed across Canada to hotels, restaurants and institutions.
Wayne Farms is recalling approximately 438,960 pounds of frozen, fully cooked chicken products that may be contaminated with extraneous materials, specifically metal pieces, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced on September 5.
Caito Foods, LLC., an Indianapolis, Ind. establishment, is recalling approximately 242 pounds of fully cooked chicken salad product due to misbranding and an undeclared allergen, the FSIS announced on Sept. 5. The products contain tree nuts (walnut), a known allergen, which is not declared on the product label.
