Brine limit helps poor

SIR — Where political timidity tends to be the norm, the ministry of agriculture showed courage last week. And where business tends to be more circumspect in comparison, the South African chicken industry resorted to pusillanimity and invective.

We welcome the publication of regulations on brining of poultry products. The new limit of 15% on individual quick frozen pieces, and 10% on whole birds, is a great victory for South Africans. For too long, millions of poor consumers have had no choice but to buy a product that was injected with upwards of 30% salt water. The new regulations protect consumers’ pockets and, according to many experts, their health.

Frozen chicken accounts for about 90% of the domestic market and, due to its relative affordability, mostly poor South Africans consume it. Until now, many domestic poultry businesses have been plumping up their profits by excessive brining.

It is good news that the department has followed international best practice in restricting brining numbers. Many countries have an 8% guideline limit. In Brazil, the world’s largest exporter of poultry, brining has been outlawed altogether.

The South African Poultry Association’s responses that this would render chicken unaffordable for the poor and shrink the domestic sector is breathtaking in its utter gall. People want chicken for their chicken. Saltwater and spin doesn’t feed a family.

At the end of the day, the minister has taken a stand for fairness, integrity and common sense. We salute him. David Wolpert CEO, Association of Meat Importers and Exporters of SA.