Meats from illegal abattoirs are dangerous

For many people, the source of the food they eat doesn’t bother them once they can afford to pay for it.

Whether they are buying from the open market or in the neighbourhood, they hardly bother about where their food comes from or how it has been handled.

Yet, experts are warning that foods such as beef and poultry can harm if they are not treated to the utmost hygienic standards..............

In recent times, the Lagos State Government has been sounding warnings about the presence of illegal abattoirs in the state. In fact, last weekend, as part of the measures to curb the sale of unwholesome meat and meat products in the state, the government shut down two illegal abattoirs in Oke-Afa and Ejigbo, Oshodi-Isolo Local Government Area.

Also affected are illegal slaughter slabs at Idi-Araba, Ashimowu (both in Mushin LGA) and Ilupeju-Oshodi illegal sheep/goats slaughter slabs.

According to the Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr. Toyin Suarau, the illegal slaughter slabs were shut as part of efforts to save Lagosians from eating unwholesome meat and meat products.

Many people might be wondering why government is shutting down illegal abattoirs. For such people, meat should be safe for consumption once it is cooked.

Well, yes, meats are safe when well cooked. However, there are serious dangers inherent in handling raw meats from unhealthy animals!

Like Suarau notes, in order to make humans safe when handling, cooking or eating meat, animals must be inspected before and after slaughtering, according to the meat inspection law.

According to the Registrar, Veterinary Council of Nigeria, Dr. Marcus Avong, the danger with illegal abattoirs is that the animals slaughtered there are never inspected by veterinary professionals.

“When veterinary doctors inspect animals before they are slaughtered and presented for sale, they are able to detect the ones that are sick or pregnant. Neither a sick animal nor a pregnant one could be slaughtered for food,” Avong warns.

Of course, there are so many dangers associated with buying meat from illegal abattoirs. One of such dangers is that such slaughter slabs don’t undergo official hygiene checks. As such, illegal slaughter houses can jeopardise the safety of the food chain.

Consultant Nutritionist, Dr. Simeon Oladimeji, warns that food-borne illness can strike anyone. He adds that some people are at a higher risk for developing food-borne illnesses.

“These include pregnant women, children, older adults and people with weakened immune system,” Oladimeji says.

Experts say that, in general, animal products are loaded with bacteria, antibiotics, hormones, dioxins, and a host of other toxins that can cause serious health problems in humans.

Oladimeji explains, “All meats are contaminated before being cooked, and if not cooked properly, they will remain contaminated and pose dangers to whoever eats them.”

He adds, “Meats can be contaminated by E. coli, campylobacter, listeria, or other dangerous bacteria that live in the intestinal tracts, flesh, and faeces of animals.”

As bad as it is, some meat from illegal abattoirs are even said to contain MRSA, a bacterium that reportedly kills more people than AIDS because it is responsible for several difficult-to-treat infections in humans!

“So, when anyone eats meat that has been contaminated with bacteria, they can experience food poisoning, with symptoms ranging from stomach cramps and diarrhoea to organ failure and death in extreme case,” Oladimeji warns.

Worse still, Suarau notes, because the abattoirs are illegal, they operate in unsanitary conditions. As such, the animals that are slaughtered there are not fit for human consumption.

“When the meat is offered for sale to the general public, they pose extreme dangers to the health of unsuspecting consumers,” the commissioner warns.

He adds, “The health risks of contaminated meat from illegal abattoirs could be catastrophic, as the authorities may find it difficult to trace the origin of products should disease break out as a result of consuming such meats.”

Avong says that another danger posed by illegal slaughter slabs is that when people think they are eating one type of meat, it could actually be a different type of meat they are consuming!

Indeed, in some embarrassing instances, horse meat has been labelled as beef and sold to unsuspecting buyers. Many people only became suspicious when the meat didn’t taste like what they are used to!

Standard abattoir

A standard abattoir should have government approval, while it should also have in attendance certain health officials such as a veterinary doctor and sanitary inspectors.

It should also maintain clean environment, with flowing taps for regular water supply, and a drainage channel for discharging wastes and animal by-products.

Avong says, “The unhygienic condition of illegal abattoirs and slaughter houses poses serious danger to public health. And that’s why Nigerians should be careful as to where they buy their meats from.”