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The Consumer Council of Fiji says poor quality meat is being sold in low income areas at exorbitant prices.
Council chief executive officer Premila Kumar said poor families are buying the meat without considering how fatty or unhealthy it is.
“The council’s regular market surveillance in Nasinu and Navua shows that some unscrupulous traders take advantage of this fact and sell low quality meat at high prices,” Kumar said.
She added that traders are misleading consumers by labeling low grade lamb chops, mutton and shanks as premium grade.
Kumar said the sale of cheap low grade fatty meat can be avoided by introducing quality standards for both imported and local meat.
“Meat standards will serve as commercial quality standards to help facilitate international trade, encourage high quality local production, improve profits and protect consumer interests,” she said.
Meanwhile, Fiji Meats Industry Board operations manager, Steven Ting says consumers can avoid the purchase of low quality meat by going directly to the butchers.
“The meat is fresh and cheaper compared to shops and supermarkets,” he told FijiLive.
Ting agreed that if local production is increased, consumers will be able to enjoy better quality meat with less fat.
“The problem lies with the fact that there is not enough supply to cater for everyone’s demands.”
