AN investigation has been launched into claims meat infected with tuberculosis (TB) is being sold in Bahrain.

Unlicensed slaughter houses have been putting people’s lives at risk by allegedly selling contaminated cattle meat as they do not perform health screenings on the animals.

It comes after the National Audit Office Report demanded the Municipalities and Urban Planning Affairs Ministry to probe unlicensed slaughter houses and TB-infected cattle being released into the market.

“The main difference between an unlicensed slaughter house and a licenced one is that in licenced ones there are vets to check each animal before it is slaughtered,” said the sources.

“There is only one licensed slaughter house in Bahrain – the Bahrain Livestock Company.

“Many people go to unlicensed ones for better deals or just convenience, but they mostly don’t do health checks before slaughter, which can put people’s lives at risk.

“People should buy meat from licenced slaughter house, so they don’t get any meat that is unsuitable for consumption.”

The sources confirmed that cow meat brought into Bahrain is often infected with TB, but licensed butchers are trained on removing infected lesions.

“TB in cows is either localised or generalised,” they explained.

“In cases that are localised – which means the infection has only spread to a single area – that part of the carcase can be removed and the rest of the cow will still be fit for human consumption.

“But when it is generalised, it means the infection has spread throughout the carcase. That carcase needs to be discarded.

“When the animal is identified by vets before slaughter it is flagged so that butchers can cut out infected areas and that meat is safe for consumption.”

In: News Asked By: AskBahrain [192 ]