3 May 2013

Takeaway food outlets likely cheap chicken buyers

6:06 am on 3 May 2013

The Restaurant Association says cheap and takeaway food outlets are most likely to have bought chicken meat and eggs from an illegal poultry processing operation in Auckland.

Staff from the Ministry of Primary Industries seized 149 slaughtered chickens, 700 eggs, cash and commercial processing equipment at two premises in Flat Bush on Tuesday.

Association vice president Steve Logan said the buyers were probably low-cost food outlets looking to save costs wherever possible.

He said buying illegally-processed chicken is hugely risky because there is no guarantee the meat is safe.