The Proudly South African organisation says that stockists of imported American poultry must reveal publicly where and in what form the chicken is being sold.

“We have received information that a large portion of the American chicken is allegedly being sold in the delicatessen section of a well-known retailer. If this is true‚ it would mean the chicken does not carry a ‘label of origin’ and consumers are therefore not able to make informed choices‚” said Proudly SA’s CEO‚ Advocate Leslie Sedibe.

Proudly SA says retailers‚ shops‚ fast food outlets and any other stockists of the imported American chicken should come out publicly and state if they are selling the poultry.

“Let’s also remind consumers that by law‚ any item sold in South Africa must carry a label of origin stating on the packaging where the product comes from‚” Sedibe said in a statement.

“We think it would be very devious and deceptive if stockists are indeed using so-called ‘loopholes’ to hide the origin of the American chicken‚ such as selling it in cooked form in supermarket delis‚” said Sedibe.

Proudly SA applauded Nando’s South Africa‚ which came out strongly in a statement to publicly declare that they only use fresh‚ whole South African chicken.

 American poultry was allowed into South Africa in March‚ to ensure the country could continue enjoying trade benefits under the African Growth and Opportunity Act.