Further to the press release issued on Wednesday 27 March 2013, Birmingham City Council is clarifying its advice on Humza Halal meat products.
Eight products were originally tested, one of which, Humza Brand Chicken Burgers in a pack of 20 with a best before date of 10th May 2013, tested positive for pork contamination. This was found in two burgers from the same batch.
To protect the interests of the community, a product recall was agreed with the company and the results were made public. This test result remains correct and this specific product should be returned to the shop it was purchased from or disposed of. Any statement made recently that ALL Humza products are free from pork contamination is therefore incorrect.
To clarify, the chicken burger in question was manufactured by a company in Somerset and was repackaged with the Humza brand name in Birmingham. Investigations are continuing but the likely source of the contamination was at the manufacturing plant in Somerset.
The other seven products tested which were either manufactured by Humza in Birmingham or supplied via other producers did not contain any pork product. Details of the products tested and the results are listed below:
- Humza Chicken Tikka Samosa
No contamination found - Humza Lamb Samosa
No contamination found - Humza Sheesk Kebab
No contamination found - Humza Lamb sausage
No contamination found - Humza Lamb Burger
No contamination found - Humza Beef Burgers x 20
No contamination found - Humza Beef Sausages
No contamination found - Humza 20x Chicken Burgers
Contains pork - Humza 20x Chicken Burgers
Contains pork
Other batches of Humza chicken burgers and a range of other Humza brand products have been sent for further testing, the results of these are expected early next week (owing to the high volume of samples being handled from across the country).
We are continuing to work with the Food Standards Agency and the authorities in Somerset to ensure that no further contamination occurs. See factsheet detailing the council’s process regarding the discovery of contamination in Halal products.
Cllr Barbara Dring, Chair of the Licensing and Public Protection Committee, said: “We are very concerned about these test results and their implication for consumers who we are trying to protect. We wish to make it clear that this batch of Humza Chicken Burgers 20 pack tested positive for pork contamination. We are taking decisive action to remove these products from sale and will continue our investigations into contaminated meat products.”
