Chicken factory closed over hygiene worries

A chicken-processing factory has been closed over concerns about hygiene practices at the plant.

New Zealand Food Safety Authority verification agency technical manager Chris Mawson said the authority had directed the Brinks Chicken plant in Invercargill to close on Tuesday.

The concerns related to company's cleaning and sanitation programme, the operator's ability to maintain an adequate cleaning programme and training and competency of staff in that area.

Mr Mawson told The Southland Times he did not know how long the factory would remain closed but it was not expected to reopen this week.

Brinks Chicken chief executive Matthew van den Brink told the newspaper the closure had come as a result of "technical issues" at the plant. He would not comment further.

One Invercargill woman said she was so horrified by a lack of hygiene at the Brinks store a few months ago that she chose not make a purchase and had not returned.

Brinks supplies chickens to 400 customers throughout the south, including some supermarkets.

It will use chickens from its other plants as a stopgap until its Invercargill factory reopens.

A company spokesman said staff were being kept on full pay during the closure.

- NZPA