Meat seller investigated by MPI

A team of Ministry for Primary Industries investigators today carried out a search warrant at an alleged unregulated meat premises in Turangi.

It was the culmination of a six-month undercover operation involving the alleged purchase of considerable quantities of venison, lamb and pork products from a Turangi man.

The man is now being spoken to by MPI investigators in relation to the alleged sale of meat from an unregulated premises.

MPI Compliance Operations Manager, Gary Orr, said a decision would be made shortly as to whether charges would be laid under the Animal Products Act.

He said offences that involved activities that fell outside of the act could have serious food safety implications.

"Food of animal origin presents one of the foremost risks to the health and well-being of humans because animals can unwittingly transfer diseases and chemical residues to humans and other animals.

"The trade of unregulated meat is a risk because there's no basis for the consumer to know whether the necessary hygiene and control measures have been in place during processing.

"This sort of activity poses a very real risk to consumer health."

Mr Orr said the investigation was ongoing.