MEAT PERCENTAGE IN MANY ARMENIAN SAUSAGES BELOW 16 PERCENT: SCPEC
YEREVAN, December 10. / ARKA /. Armenia’s State Commission for
Protection of Economic Competition (SCPEC) ruled today to penalize
21 local meat companies for breach of standards after a study found
that the percentage of meat in some of their meat products is only 16%.
These companies will be penalized in the amount of one percent of
their annual revenue, the maximum penalty prescribed by law for
such breaches.
The penalized companies are Mush, A. Bilyan, Ar delicates,, Natfood,
Jrvezh meat, Marila, Babak 90, Erebuni Astgh, Father and Son Galstyan,
Yeryomka, Elite Prod, A. Shirvanyan and friends, Brothers Artem and
Hrayr, Luma, Karine and Narine, Neptune Mar, SOS 97, Tiran Ghazaryan,
Gayan Jam, Good Stork, and Arthur Hakobyan.
SCPEC chairman Artak Shaboyan said the study revealed high content of
soy, semolina, starch, flour, nitrite, phosphorus and other substances
in the meat products, added to increase their weight and make them
look more appetizing. Besides, instead of beef and pork some varieties
of sausages contained frozen imported buffalo and chicken meat.
He said SCPEC will ask the ministry of agriculture to address the
existing gaps in the legislation regulating production of sausages.
“Dishonest companies have used the loopholes in the law. In particular,
technical regulations for meat and meat products do not specify the
percentage of meat in meat product for them to be considered sausage
products,” he added. -0-