News

Turkish ministry files complaint over Burger King meat contamination

September 21, 2010

Investigations continue in Turkey of alleged claims that the country's Burger King chain sold 160,000 salmonella and listeria-contaminated hamburger patties.

The Turkish Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs filed a criminal complaint on Sept. 20 against Zeybek Solid Waste Center, which was responsible for disposing the contaminated meat, stemming from a complaint from TT G?da, a Turkey-based company supplying Burger King with meat products.

According to Today’s Zaman, TT G?da had been supplying Burger King with meat through the company Fasdat G?da. But the company terminated its agreement with TT G?da, stating TT Gida’s meat was contaminated. The ministry requested records from Fasdat G?da to account for the contaminated meat, and these records showed the meat was sent to Zeybek for safe disposal.

However, the ministry discovered the meat was sent to a Kangal dog farm in Mad?mak in Bursa, Turkey. Farm officials claimed 55 dogs had consumed the meat spanning over a two-month period, although they were unable to prove it.

Meanwhile, contaminated meat provided by two companies was found by the Kocaeli Agricultural Directorate following routine inspections from June 18-21. Süerdem said the contaminated meat was disposed of while they alarmed all provincial agricultural directorates to ensure the disposal of meat that was part of the same shipment.