An Auckland butcher has been forced to toss out a bunch of meat after a photo was shared online showing it being stored in cardboard boxes and stacked atop a supermarket trolley.
Shefco Meats, a new butcher in Flat Bush, came under fire after the image from inside the store was shared on Facebook yesterday.
The post sparked an investigation from Auckland Council.
Alan Ahmu, Auckland Council’s environmental health response team leader, said a council food safety officer visited the site today and directed that all the meat that was exposed to contamination, noted in the supplied photo, be disposed of.
“This directive was complied with while the council’s officer was on-site.
“The food safety officer recorded that the carcass hanging rail was installed yesterday, and that the refrigeration to the chiller was also working yesterday.
“The chiller storage temperature was found to be compliant. This is a new business which is not currently open and is yet to start trading.
“Once it commences trading, its food control plan will be verified by the council.”
A member of the public spotted carcasses stacked in cardboard boxes and a supermarket trolley inside Shefco Meats' new Flat Bush branch. Photo / Facebook
The picture from inside one of the back rooms showed several animal carcasses stored in cardboard boxes and stacked atop a supermarket trolley.
Shefco’s owner responded to the initial post in a since-deleted reply on Facebook.
In the post, they said they had temporarily stored the carcasses in “clean trolleys and boxes” while installing a meat rail in the same room.
“Absolutely nothing was placed on the floor,” they wrote.
Shefco Meats insists the images do not reflect its hygiene standards. Photo / Facebook
“We take hygiene and food safety very seriously and are proud of the standards we uphold.
“It’s disappointing that someone may have misunderstood or misrepresented the situation, especially as we’ve worked hard to bring something new and good to the Dawson Rd community.
“We invite anyone to come see the shop and our processes for themselves – transparency is important to us, and we’re always happy to answer questions.”
The Herald has approached the owner for comment.
Shefco Meats also operates at an address in Stoddard Rd, Mt Albert.
The Food Act 2014 and Food Regulations Act 2015 stipulate any food at the premises of a food business is considered to be for commercial use.
Such businesses are required to take active steps to ensure the food kept on-site meets strict health and safety regulations and is safe for consumption.
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