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Al Ain man ‘sold sick animals to restaurants for past 20 years’!

The five-minute expose was an edited version of a 34-minute sound track on ‘Investor Noor’ (as he was nicknamed by the programme’s presenter), an Asian who has been a long-time resident of the oasis city of Al Ain working as a sheep and goat salesman, said Jaber Obeid, the programme presenter.

A copy of the tape was also sent yesterday to the Field Supervision Section of the Food Control Authority, which will investigate Noor’s “claims.”

Noor, who is said to be a popular salesman in the city, narrated his story in broken Arabic to the programme’s co-host, and said he had sold ‘slightly sick animals’ to different unsuspecting customers in Al Ain. He said his clients included various restaurants, Al Ain Zoo and individual customers of different nationalities.

The edited tape was aired in full, and the presenters tried to speak to Abdullah Juma Al Junaibi, head of the Field Inspections Section at the Food Control Authority. However, Mr. Al Junaibi could not respond to the presenters' queries as was said to be in a meeting. However, Dr. A. Latif, in-charge of the Meats Inspection Unit, said the Authority always ensures that all livestock is checked by vets before they are slaughtered at abattoirs, and the meats sold in the markets are absolutely safe at all times.

But Jaber told him that the problem in this particular case was with animals that are being sold without being checked by veterinary doctors and those not slaughtered in abattoirs. "For instance, animals sold on farms", added Jaber.

The official, who spoke to the programme's presenters while he was on an inspection tour of the market in Abu Dhabi, said animals on farms did not fall under the inspection mechanisms of the Food Control Authority but under the civic body. He, however, asked for a copy of the tape to be delivered to his department for a review and appropriate action.

The issue of sick animals being consumed by humans is a serious issue and it is the first time such a controversy has been created. The open discussion on the airwaves has sent shockwaves among people, especially in remote areas and villages where slaughtering animals outside abattoir facilities is not uncommon, despite intensive awareness campaigns to discourage people from doing so. But there are still some question marks over where these animals came from.

According to market sources, shipments of livestock coming from Australia, East Africa and other countries sometimes include sick, and heavily fatigued animals, which are 'sold clandestinely' by unscrupulous traders. These animals then fall into the hands of 'Investor Noor' and people like him who sell the animals privately to various customers.

Dr. A. Latif said efforts will be made to investigate the matter thoroughly following an examination of the Studio 1 audio tape.

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