MYAGDI, Sept 27: A recent inspection has revealed that most slaughterhouses in Beni, the district headquarters of Myagdi, are playing with the health of the people by selling unhygienic and inedible meat. The selling of rotten and stale meat has been on the rise with the start of Dashain, the greatest festival of Hindus.
The inspection concluded that more than half of the slaughterhouses were engaged in unethical practices. On Monday, the inspection team caught some meat shops distributing stale and rotten meat to the locals. The inspection which was conducted under the leadership of Beni Municipality in coordination with Myagdi Chamber of Commerce, District Livestock Service Office and various local authorities, found that none of the slaughterhouses in the headquarters were following the criteria and standards mentioned in the law.
Need for Modern Slaughterhouses in Nepal
As informed by Assistant Chief District Officer Yadavnath Acharya, the people are being sold poor quality meat. It was found that the freezes used for storing meat were dirty and foul-smelling. Meat was kept in the open and meat sellers were found chopping the meat without using gloves and wearing masks. Even the weapons used for slaughtering were dirty, filthy and dilapidated, informed Acharya. According to him, some meat sellers were found storing rotten meat and dead chicken with the ill intention of deceiving the consumers. The dirt and dust of the road could easily enter the shop as there was no fencing.
The inspection team examined the slaughterhouses on 22 different standards and criteria. "Almost all the meat shops failed to meet even the minimum criteria which is sad," said Acharya, adding, "This might lead to some serious epidemic in the future." The inspection team has warned to shut down the slaughterhouses if they are found breaching the law in the future.
During the inspection, the locals complained that various meat shops were polluting the environment and selling adulterated meat. Altogether 17 meat shops of Beni's bank road, Indreni Tole, Sangam Chowk, New road, Hospital Area and nearby places were inspected. Some of the meat owners were found using medicines and preservatives to store stale meat.
Though the consumers have been time and again suggested to buy hygienic meat but still many are found neglecting their health by buying whatever they get. Earlier, three people were nabbed for violating Animal Slaughterhouse and Meat Inspection Act 1999. However, that has not deterred anyone from breaching the act.
