A South African farmer is facing charges after allegedly collecting expired and rotten food from retailers under the pretense of feeding it to his animals, only to sell it for human consumption.
The arrest followed a raid by the Hawks and health inspectors from the Govan Mbeki Municipality on the suspect’s farm in Mpumalanga after receiving a tip-off that he was distributing expired food to local residents.
During the raid, investigators discovered two warehouses filled with food unfit for human consumption.
Among the items found were 1,000 crates of expired dairy products, including cheese, as well as four cold rooms stocked with rotten red meat, chicken, and expired canned goods. The farm also contained seven freezers with repackaged wheat, flour, and maize meal.
“Four cold rooms packed with expired canned goods, rotten red meat, and chicken were found. Additionally, about 1,000 crates containing expired dairy products, including cheese, were uncovered,” Nkosi said.
The authorities also found a truck with a cold room, two light delivery vehicles—one carrying meat—and an empty vehicle.
Equipment used for vacuum sealing, scales, and plastic sealers were also recovered, along with stickers and pricing machines, which are believed to have been used to repackage the expired food for resale.
Mpumalanga Hawks spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Magonseni Nkosi stated that the recovered items indicated the farm was involved in illegal repackaging of expired products.
Hawks head Major General Nico Gerber emphasised the serious health risks posed by the contaminated food, which was intended for unsuspecting consumers.
The farmer is scheduled to appear in court, where he will face charges related to the sale of unsafe food.
