CHON BURI: The Department of Livestock Development has seized over 500 kilogrammes of pork and squid preserved with formaldehyde from an unlicensed meat factory in Phan Thong district, which authorities believe were destined for barbecue restaurants.
DLD director-general Somchuan Ratanamungklanon yesterday told media that the meats were seized after authorities raided a building in tambon Ban Kao, whose entrances were sealed with corrugated metal sheets.
The “factory” had been operating illegally without a licence and lacked a water treatment system. At the site, officials discovered 544kg of pork meat and squid that were soaking in formaldehyde, which is not a food-safe preservative.
Among the evidence retrieved from the factory were receipts and a list of customers, which included a number of barbecue buffet restaurants.
The department is planning to file a report with Phan Thong police against the factory operator for trading in animal carcasses and distributing meat without permission, an offence under the Animal Epidemic Act, Food Act and Control of Animal Slaughter for the Distribution Act.
The DLD director-general said the department would ramp up inspections of meat producers nationwide to ensure the health and safety of consumers.
Early in December last year, livestock officials launched a crackdown on BBQ restaurants and unlicensed factories in many provinces. They found various meats and offal stored in formaldehyde, commonly used to preserve dead bodies.