A, research carried out in the Republic of South Africa has revealed that donkey, water buffalo and goat meat have been sold as burgers and sausages in the country strangely to people.

A study published by the local Stellenbosch University found that 99 of 139 samples contained species not declared in the product label that was sold on the market to consumers.

It found that soya and gluten were not labeled in 28% of products tested, undeclared pork in 37% and chicken in 23% in total.

The Stellenbosch University said it had sufficient evidence to prove that there is a massive fraud in the meat on the market which is sold to consumers and government must act quickly to stop it.

“There’s a fair share of fraudulent meat products on the South African market, according to a new study by meat scientists from Stellenbosch University,” the university reports on its website.

“The study found that anything from soya, donkey, goat and water buffalo were to be found in up to 68% of the 139 minced meats, burger patties, deli meats, sausages and dried meats that were tested, in other cases, even undeclared plant matter was detected.”

The researchers who were involved on the field work also expressed their shock about how meat products are fraudulently labeled for sale as beef which were not.

“Our study confirms that the mislabeling of processed meats is commonplace in South Africa and not only violates food labeling regulations, but also poses economic, religious, ethical and health impacts,” one of the researchers, Louw Hoffman, is quoted as saying by the local press.

“Our findings raise significant concern on the functioning of the meat supply chain in South Africa, even though we have local regulations that protect consumers from being sold falsely described or inferior foodstuffs, we need these measures to be appropriately enforced”, Mr. Hoffman added.

The study was done by experts from the Stellenbosch University’s Department of Animal Sciences and the Food & Allergy Consulting & Testing Services in Milnerton, Cape Town.

The disclosure comes at a time of a growing scandal in Europe about horsemeat being sold as beef to consumers on the market.

On Monday, Swedish company Ikea withdrew meatballs from sale in 14 European countries after tests in the Czech Republic found traces of horsemeat in a batch made in Sweden.

Leading supermarkets in the UK meanwhile, have withdrawn beef products from shelves after they were found to contain horsemeat.

Issaka Adams / NationalTurk Africa News

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