Thailand’s Livestock Development Department has destroyed 25 tonnes of meat and offal, seized from an illegal meat processing plant in Si Racha district of Chon Buri province, after it was found to be contaminated with formalin and Salmonella bacteria.

Somchuan Ratanamungklanon, the department’s director-general, said today (Saturday) that the latest tests confirmed that the meat and beef offal, seized on December 1st, was contaminated.

The condemned meat was disinfected before being buried in a landfill in Si Racha district, he added.

The processing plant regularly sold its products to more than 60 Bar-B-Q shops in Chon Buri and nearby provinces.

Somchuan alleged that the plant soaked its meat in formalin, caustic soda and hydrogen peroxide solutions, adding that it was contaminated by Salmonella bacteria during the processing.

A formal complaint has already been lodged with Si Racha police against the owner of the illegal processing plant.