Meat unfit for consumption raises serious concerns in Casablanca

The issue of spoiled meat is brought to the forefront again given the significant risk it poses to public health.

The issue is further accentuated with a recent incident on Wednesday, in Hay Hassani district, Casablanca, which unveiled the seizing of large quantities of meat and chicken unfit for consumption, according to Hespress.

The amount of spoiled meat has not been disclosed. However, the footage taken by Hespress depicted a large amount of minced meat, chicken, and turkey remnants inside a refrigerator emitting a foul odor. The rotten good was stored in dirty and inappropriate conditions.

The presence of spoiled meat in the market not only endangers consumer safety but also erodes public trust in local food stores.

The incident raised concerns among the population living in Hay Hassani and brought the issue of unauthorized slaughter to the table again.

To delve more into the issue, Hespress EN called Madani Derrouz the President of With Consumers Association Casablanca to learn more about the factors that contribute to the prevalence of unauthorized slaughter and how Moroccan citizens must react when encountering such unlawful practices.

Derrouz explained  that the phenomenon is not new. “Whenever surveillance is strict, those involved in unauthorized slaughter continually seek ways to avoid authorities’ grasp.”

“Although individuals who are caught conducting covert slaughter face harsh punishments, the laws themselves are generally quite lax,” highlighted the President of With Consumers Association Casablanca.

Those penalties are often lenient in comparison to the harm caused to public health, especially when the culprits are experienced professionals, he added.

Those individuals make large profits while avoiding taxes that authorized slaughterhouses are required to pay.

“They make substantial profits from this practice because they do not pay taxes. In authorized slaughterhouses, taxes range from 1000 dirhams to 1500 dirhams. Hence, all of this is profit for those involved in secret slaughter,” said Derrouz.

He underlined that it is due to increasing meat prices which many citizens cannot afford that push them to look for cheaper alternatives, which are in turn provided by unauthorized slaughter.

He stressed that citizens should actively fight against these unlawful practices by filing complaints with the Consumer Protection Associations. However, it is worth noting that “the association may not have the means to verify the quality of meat,” said Derrouz.

“Once a complaint is received, the Office of Food Safety and Health takes charge of the investigation. They dispatch a committee to inspect the reported locations,” he further explained.

Derrouz concluded the interview with Hespress EN stressing that citizens should report any incidents of unauthorized slaughter to the Consumer Protection Associations, local authorities, and economic offices falling under provinces.

Local authorities in Hay Hassani district took the necessary actions and seized all the amount of rotten meat.

The population of Hay Hassani expressed their satisfaction with the swift action taken by the local authorities as well as venting their disappointment with the quality of meat being brought to their market, as it would damage its reputation.

One of the consumers expressed his dissatisfaction and stressed, “Monitoring should always be in place. It should not be planned; authorities should monitor the situation. It is shameful and disgraceful to see such things,” according to Hespress.

He added, “There are some merchants who provide good meat, but others spoil the market’s reputation and deceive people.”

Another one told Hespress, “We hope that officials continuously monitor the quality of food products. This practice is disgraceful.”

People should not be swayed by cheap prices and ensure that all meat for sale bears the veterinary health inspection stamp, which guarantees the safety and quality of the meat.