The Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain (Afsca) has closed down an abattoir in Geel, Antwerp Province, where problems of hygiene and infrastructure had already been detected two years ago, Het Laatste Nieuws reported on Thursday. Measures had been taken there after the first warnings by Afsca, but they had not been enough and were implemented too late. The abattoir said public health had not been endangered, animal welfare had been respected, and there had not been any fraudulent practices.
The Delhaize company immediately ended its cooperation with the supplier that processes meat from the abattoir in question.
Meat that had already been delivered will, however, remain on the shelves until the matter is clarified since the safety of the food chin is guaranteed, the distributor said.
The Brussels Times
