Retailers Caught Selling Thawed Pork as Chilled
SINGAPORE - The National Environment Agency (NEA) has slapped 31 pork retailers with fines of $300 each this year for passing-off thawed frozen pork as chilled.In a statement, the Consumer Association of Singapore (CASE) said it takes a serious view of this and advises consumers to be extra careful when making such purchases.
CASE said meat, either chilled or frozen, is flown from the abattoir to retailers to ensure that consumers here enjoy fresh produce.
Chilled fresh meat is more expensive than its frozen equivalent because of transportation costs, handling charges and shorter shelf life.
For example, chilled fresh pork costs about 50 per cent more than the frozen version.
CASE said given the price difference, 'some traders are tempted to pass off the thawed frozen meat as chilled fresh meat'.
'This is compounded by the ignorance of consumers to judge visually whether the slab of meat is chilled or formerly frozen,' it added.
To help consumers make the right choice, CASE is urging meat retailers to physically segregate chilled meat from thawed meat and to have the products clearly labeled if they are displayed in the same chiller.