WHERE political timidity tends to be the norm — the minister of agriculture last week showed courage. And where business tends to be more circumspect in comparison — the SA chicken industry resorted to pusillanimity and invective.We welcome the publication of regulations on brining of poultry products. The new limit of 15% on individual quick frozen pieces and 10% on whole birds, is a great victory for South Africans. For too long, millions of poor consumers have had no choice but to buy a product that was injected with upwards of 30% salt water. The new regulations protect consumers’ pockets and, according to many experts, their health.Frozen chicken accounts for about 90% of the local market and due to its relative affordability, mostly poor South Africans consume it. Until now many local poultry businesses have been plumping up their profits by excessive brining.It is good news that the agriculture department has followed international best practice in restricting brining numbers...
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