8 Organic means integrity
Modern meat is a thing of beauty and utter mystery. As the recent horsemeat scandal shows, what the tin says has little bearing to what might actually end up within. But have consumers learnt from such scandals?
“Let’s hope so. It’s long, complex supply chains and the demand for cheaper food that have created these scandals. There are organic labels slapped on all sorts of products, so a label alone is no indication of quality across the board. Better to get to know your supplier,” says Chehimi.
Balance Café’s George believes that while food scandals are scary, strict food safety laws protect consumers in the GCC.
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“It’s these strict laws that have helped consumers regain trust in eating out. The production and sourcing of organic foods is far more transparent, especially with accreditations like with the Emirates Organic Foods Certification Scheme in place.”
But Gleeson believes any positive effects of the scandal were mere passing straws in the wind.
“I have to be the pessimist here and say nothing has changed. There might have been a couple of weeks of talk. But there is a continuing campaign to prevent salmonella in chicken houses by vaccinating chickens and keeping coups rodent free.
In other markets, there is a fight against overworked, under-qualified slaughterhouse workers, or fast food chains putting pink slime and chemically bleached meat in their burgers.”
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