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Cape Town – Fast food chain Nando’s has rejected the government’s assertion that it serves imported American chicken in its restaurants.
The company rejected comments attributed to Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies that US chicken is served in its restaurants.
“We’d like to set the record straight: Nando’s is proudly South African. The American poultry that has landed in South Africa does not find its way into your Nando’s meal,” said Geoff Whyte, chief executive of Nando’s South Africa.
He was responding to a radio report quoting Davies as saying Nando’s makes use of chicken imported from the US.
Davies recently described as “tough and arduous” negotiations with the US for the African Growth and Opportunity Act, which allows 65 000 metric tons of poultry to be imported to SA.
READ: Agoa: SA negotiated best deal possible, says Davies
Health standards pertaining to US chicken have been criticised by the South African Poultry Association (Sapa).
“In 2015, there were a number of outbreaks including Salmonella enteritidis infections linked to raw, frozen, stuffed chicken products produced by Aspen Foods; drug-resistant Salmonella enteritidis infections linked to raw, frozen, stuffed chicken products produced by Barber Foods; and human Salmonella infections linked to live poultry," said Sapa chief executive officer Kevin Lovell.
American chicken is often sold at lower prices than local poultry, but Nando’s rejected suggestions that it would serve imported chicken.
“The food served at Nando’s restaurants will continue to be of the quality that Nando’s guests have come to know and love. Nando’s will always serve only South African chicken,” said Whyte.
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