A self-proclaimed butcher from Prevoje pri Lukovici has allegedly been selling such meat for five years. The inspectorate still does not know who his suppliers were because a number of delivery notes appear to be missing from his files.

Cleaning Business Doubles as Meat Supplier
During the crackdown, inspectors found out that the owner of the house in Prevoje has been selling meat and meat products without a valid licence. Almost two tonnes of meat have been seized and destroyed. Svežina, a cleaning business, was one of his suppliers. The owner of the cleaning business said in writing: “The retail sale of meat and meat products in bulk is a registered economic activity of my business.”

Head of the Slovenian Food Safety Authority Andreja Bizjak said that this is not enough because every business involved in the sale of meat must be registered with the Food Safety Authority. The owner of the cleaning business also said that he occasionally supplied meat to the “butcher” and that he did not know that the butcher never properly registered his company.

The case is also being investigated by the Slovenian Financial Administration. The Food Safety Authority said that those who bought meat of dubious origin should discard it: “Those who wish to produce, process or pack meat must do so in registered plants. Those who consume meat of dubious provenance can fall sick and even die.”

Jasna Krljič Vreg, TV Slovenija; translated by D. V.