Officials from the Livestock Development Department seized about 25 tonnes of pig and cow offal and other meat soaked in formalin yesterday (Saturday) from an illegal food processing plant in Si Racha district of Chon Buri Province.
The department’s director-general, Somchuan Ratanamungklanon, told the media that the seized meat, potentially worth about five million baht, was found in refrigerated containers and in cooler tanks. The products were intended for over 60 bar-b-que shops in the province.
He said the raid came as a result of complaints from people living in the neighbourhood of a foul smell emanating from the plant. They also expressed concerns that the facility might spread disease in their community.
Officials thoroughly checked the makeshift factory and found more than 50 containers, each containing 25-litres of formalin, over 2,300 receipts showing the names of customers and quantities of the meat products delivered to them.
Somchuan said samples of the meat products will be sent to a lab for analysis, to determine whether it is contaminated with dangerous substances or disease. The remainder of the products will be impounded on site.
The owner was also told to produce the operating license to livestock officials within 15 days. Failure to do so will result in the impounded meat being buried or burned.
