'Injected chicken' claims reignited

4th June 2009, 12:28pm

Claims that chicken sold to cafes and restaurants throughout the hospitality industry has been injected with beef and pork waste have once again been alleged.

A report from the Food Standards Agency shows that 'bovine collagen', a non-poultry material, was found in samples examined.

It reads: "The FSA's snapshot study looked at a small number of injection powders that claimed to contain only chicken protein. Analysis using a new approach developed under the Agency's authenticity programme indicated that proteins from beef or pork were also present in some of the samples.

"Hydrolysed pork and beef proteins can be used as water retaining agents in chicken as long as they are properly labelled. Use of these proteins does not make chicken products unsafe, but it is important that people are given accurate information about their food.

As the law currently stands, water can be added to chicken products by manufacturers for a number of reasons, for example to improve the succulence of the meat.

Adding water to chicken is permitted, but where the water content is greater than 5%, water must be declared in the name of the food and listed as an ingredient.

The FSA concluded by saying: "There is no evidence to suggest that there is a widespread problem with undeclared proteins in chicken products but the Agency is carrying out further studies and gathering more information in partnership with other European Member States."

The Independent has today raised cocnerns that Muslims and Jews are eating forbidden meat, which is hidden in chicken, unbeknown to them.

Related Articles:

• 03 Jun 2009 - Children's dietary survey needed, says FSA
• 03 Jun 2009 - Favourite pub chains lagging behind in salt reduction
• 29 May 2009 - Reporting incidents should be a priority, says FSA
• 21 May 2009 - More reaction to FSA salt targets
• 21 May 2009 - FSA publishes consumer attitudes survey
• 05 May 2009 - FSA updates food colourings list

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