Bush Meat for Sale in Britain

In raids conducted by the Trading Standards Officials, it has been found that CHIMPANZEE meat is being sold illegally in Britain. This meat is believed to be traded from market stalls in the Midlands. Consumers address to this meat as 'special meat' for a 'special ceremony'. Bush meat products are imported not only for consumption but also for medicinal purposes or as status symbols.

Dr. Marcus Rowcliffe of the Zoological Society of London, said: "Chimpanzee meat is rare, even in the markets of Africa. Up to 270 tons of bush meat a year could be smuggled from Africa to the UK and other European countries via French capital Paris." Smugglers often made no attempt to hide the bush meat and were caught smuggling the meat in suitcases while some of the bush meat, brought is disguised as meat products such as beef or lamb. Dr. Rowcliffe warned that imported meat could be carrying infectious diseases like foot-and-mouth, anthrax, TB or cholera.

The meat costs about 20 pounds per kilogram.


Source: Medindia