Zambeef Plc has denied ever importing contaminated meat products from Europe into the country.
Zambeef Plc Chief Executive Officer Francis Grogan said the firm has always adhered to strict regulations on food safety in it’s over 22 years of meat business.
Mr. Grogan said allegations that Zambeef imported meat products from the US, the UK and Ireland that tested positive to a harmful chemical called Aldehyde used for embalming dead bodies are part of a smear campaign by a disgruntled former employee named Gregory Kapasa.
“This Kapasa is the one who is behind this story. He is currently appearing in court after Zambeef sued him for leaking company information. He was fired and he started pushing that he be paid more money than he was entitled to and the company refused after which he started threatening that he will bring down Zambeef. This is absurd,” Mr. Grogan said.
[pullquote]It was imperative that we conduct our own independent tests because we have difficulties with the authenticity of the test results conducted by government.[/pullquote]
He said Zambeef only imports roughly 2 percent of its meat products mostly offals from Europe and are shipped in Zambia in a frozen using containers.
“When we import meat from Europe, no chemicals are added to the meat. It is simply frozen and loaded in containers all the way down here. It is not touched whatsoever.”
He said Zambeef has since withdrawn all imported meat products from the shelf to pave way for further independent tests.
Mr. Grogan stated that only local beef and beef products are currently being sold in all its outlets.
‘We have recalled all the meat from our butcheries. We have commenced independent tests on those withdrawn products at Bamora Livestock Research centre and Eurofin Group, an international group of laboratories head-quartered in Luxemburg with 180 sites in 35 countries.
He added, “It was imperative that we conduct our own independent tests because we have difficulties with the authenticity of the test results conducted by government. These are tests that are done in the middle of the night and we are not even informed of the protocols used.”
[pullquote]Those allegations are unfounded and Mr. Hichilema is not connected to Zambeef, we have also heard of those rumours but there is no truth in that.”[/pullquote]
Mr. Grogan said he was confident that the test results would clear Zambeef.
“I’m 100 percent confident that we will be vindicated after the tests are concluded.”
On reports that Zambeef could be targeted because of its perceived strong links to UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema following President Michael Sata’s instructions to state agencies to investigate Mr. Hichilema’s source of wealth, Mr. Grogan said Zambeef does not deal with Mr. Hichilema in anyway.
“For us, Mr. Hichilema is more of a competitor because we understand he owns a meat company. He is not our key supplier. We get most of our products from small scale farmers in Namwala, Choma and places like Kalomo. Those allegations are unfounded and Mr. Hichilema is not connected to Zambeef, we have also heard of those rumours but there is no truth in that.”
Really, bring it on….
“This Kapasa is the one who is behind this story. He is currently appearing in court after Zambeef sued him for leaking company information”.
Kapasa is simply a whistleblower. you import and feed contaminated beef to unsuspecting consumers.
Tests have proved and shown presence of aldehydes in your imported beef and all you can say is its absurd?
This does not inspire public confidence and I urge the public to boycot your products until proven otherwise
Govt must take legal action against your deliberate and evil desire to improve your bottom line.
No amount of cover up will turn round this scandal
Thank you Mr Kapasa for being a real patriot
kapasa….Gregory kapasa!! this guy doesnt sound nyanja or tonga?? where is this guy from? sound like he comes from some place near or close to Mpika,,, his DNA has alot of distorted threads of corruption, lying, dishonest, evil..etc ..
One fact has check out HH is not a supplier!!!,,,so can someone check the embalming chemical story,, before i take things personal and sort out this kapasa for alarming me that my relatives and homies in zed are being embalmed internally
I wouldn’t believe a story that comes from the Post. After the positively said RB had lost $27000 in his bedroom in New Kasama and his wife was a suspect even though she was in USA. This is just a smear campaign.
Zambeef is an international company. Even in Nigeria there’s Zambeef, don’t be jealous these guys know how to run their business. Why would the do that? Even in the U.K the don’t sale meat which is contaminated. Just because the get the things close to nothing from the U.k and the USA. I don’t think these guys are as heartless.
In short there saying supply them with the tests and results and the meat. The have lots of shops and I’m sure the tests conducted selected samples.
1.3 Ricky: ati in Nigeria there is Zambeef? nizi!!
international group of laboratories head-quartered in Luxemburg with 180 sites in 35 countries. This is were the boss for KCM seems to comes from and people pay as less as 5% tax because of our copper seemly. send the meat to Japan or Aussies to ascertain it’s quality.
Looking at the fact that Zambeef is Zambias most successful Meat company, I find it very difficult to see why the need such a stupid idea to increase sales. The level of this idea shows the level of mind it came from. Can someone tell me how a great mind would use a chemical like form aldehyde to increase the shelf life of meat? The whole thing stinks to high heavens if you ask me.
Sad to see that we are all reduced to believing stories before the facts are laid out on the table. Please people, this is a great company that has contributed and still contributes to the nations wealth through paid taxes and employment.
Wake up from being instruments of disorder and strive to become a great nation. Put you energies for constructive business and not cheap bickering! Let’s make our pride!
Please HH say something on this topic. Do a one man protest as you did with removal of subsidies. We are also still waiting for your statement on the burn of tujilijili and the evidence on PF training malitias. Me and my family are not eating anything from Zambeef.
What can this ka mambala ka HH say. Am sure even Rupiah who enjoys roasted beef as he drinks his booze must be upset with him and saying, ” kakambepo kamambala, kafisanji.”
This guy from Zambeef just called the president a liar on the issue of HH and his source of wealth…..smh
HH is not Zambeef! Zambeef only buys cattle from him like they do from other Zambian suppliers!
these guys have now reduced all their products at their outlets throughout the country and people are queing for the reduced beef like nobody’s business. heish!
Now this has started getting interesting ! Leteni ilyashi tumfwe bane.Boyi Gregory Kapasa uli mukakubila.I wanna hear from all the involved parties now.
Its a white elephant !
today post reports that tests were done on 27 mach 2013 !
only a fool can by such rubbish !
How is it a smear campaign when your products have indeed been tested and found to be tainted?
Too bad Zambians dont know squat about class action lawsuits! In the west, this company would be sued into oblivion…
@Napoleon, Zambians are not ignorant. How many of the companies in the European Union that sold horse meat disguised as beef were sued into oblivion? Just because you are living abroad does not make you wiser. Investigations and tests are still being conducted, so don’t jump to conclusions. No one is guilty until proven so.
Please LAZ, say something about class action in the like of Nyangulu and 2000 others v KCM, ECZ and Chingola Municipal Council.
..which laz are you talking about?
the current laz is useless to say the least.
no regrets.
Hmm ! Ok ! Now people have started fighting each other in the media like in the Zambia Railways case.I can`t wait to see the final outcome.
Be the referee 🙂
Since you claim it is a smear campaign by one, Gregory Kapasa, bring him board so that I represent you or him. Looks like very soon, it will be more money in one lawyer’s pocket.
Red meat is bad for your health, chemicals or no chemicals! Please just eat Kapenta, imilonge and ifishimu!
You will reduce cholesterol level and heart disease which has become rampant in Zambia because of burgers and steaks and KFC.
Fi cancer to much pa Zambia ka. Bondwe, katapa, kalembula, ubowa and stuff like we used to eat back in the days is best.
Processed meats like burgers, sausages, cold cuts, etc are the worst kind of meat you can put in your body.
Fast and processed Foods also contain high levels of saturated fat, preservatives and other toxins. The obesity levels we see in the US is trickling to Zambia because you are all adopting western fast food.
Zambia does not have the medical capacity to deal with diseases brought on by eating fast foods
Gregory Kapasa is doing you all a favor by trying to bring down ZAMBEEF. Beef kills.
Do not misinform the bloggers… Red meat is good for health only that most people abuse it like they abuse beer. Actually local beef is organic because it thrives on grass and hardly takes medicines. Am even surprised that zambeef Imports meat from Europe which is grown in feedlots with a lot of medicines.
@nubian
You have made me hungry! I would pay dearly for ifishimu, kapenta and imintesa. Sick and tired of processed foods here. I don’t even trust the alleged “organic” food.
ZAMBEEF CEO Francis Grogan says ” HH is not our key supplier,” implying still that HH is a supplier of meat to ZAMBEEF. Simple Logic!
Well done PF. HH has just lost one of his biggest clients…yeah, kill the man’s sources of income! Politicians and their mirage of living forever.
Gordon, Information coming from yr enemy as long as it is proved is good information and infact the best. If Kapasa did it, then he is a patriot. How many Zambians risk of cancer because of yr contaminated meat?
Stupid Grogan, you are denying the claims and yet your own test results are not yet out. In any case given the recent scandals in UK about horse meat sold as beef, what gurantee can you give us that you have not been selling us horse offals? You have no control over the exporters supply chain. This issue has really made me sick
Good point man. High likelihood of horse offals and tripe me thinks, which might explain the chemical content. May be not necessarily Aldehyde but other harmful chemicals. There is no smoke without fire. Government has to review this carefully and should not let Zambeef dictate who conducts the tests that’s cheeky of him to rubbish government health inspectors.
I never knew they import meat from UK I followed that issue but it seems in Zambia no one bothered what was happening in the world.
So many questions to be answered here.How and where did the govt collect samples that were used in the tests that it carried out? Did it confiscate any consignment of the meat alleged to be contaminated? To be honest I find it difficult to buy any meat products from any meat supplier following the ZAMBEEF revelations. We need nothing but the TRUTH IN THE MATTER, IF IT IS TRUE, ZAMBEEF WILL HAVE TO APOLOGIZE TO ITS CONSUMERS FOR THE MISTAKE IF ANY. IF SOMEONE IS ON A CAMPAIGN TO DESTROY ZAMBEEF, AND THERE IS NO TRUTH IN HIS CLAIMS, HE MUST PUBLICLY WITHDRAW HIS CLAIMS AND CLEAR ZAMBEEF. Remember that ZAMBEEF is looking after more 5000 workers plus their families, destroying it with cheap lies means destroying the lives of 5000workers and their families.THIS IS NOT TO DEFEND ZAMBEEF.
Yaba too much’ no wonder I fail sick’ zambeef here I come
@ Nubian Princess Thank you sister, you are entirely correct. Lets encourage all our relatives and friends, to return to eating the normal way. The African way, umu salu, amasuku, kalembula, basically everything native to Zambia. The processed foods are a contradiction to nature. Its like putting petrol or water in a diesel engine, the engine will die..its no different to our bodies. In the west wealthy people or the more informed are striving to eat organically and avoid fast foods, whereas for us it has become a symbol of high culture to eat fast foods. Follow follow!
..amakole, iminyombela, intungulu, amabungo, utusongole, incenja, amasuku, impundu, amasafwa, bamatako 4, inkoko shamumpanga, the list goes on.
the last time i advocated for these, someone called me ‘kamushi’ when iam ”wamu town’
thank you what? to who? labia nubian?
The meat she is talking against is the same meat she eats,,that main reason she moved to State was runing away from kapenta, vikubala,,,and the rest,,,running for the burger and fries,,,making up that fake asscent because of processed food!!!
Anyone against proccesed food must NOT move to USA!!!! FULL SPOT!!!
@Chibamba, Which African way of eating are you talking about? Zambians are not the same. Tongas and Lozis are cattle keepers. Their way of life includes meat eating and drinking both fresh and sour milk. That ‘native way’ you are talking about is descriptive of your own ethnicity and does not apply to Tongas and Lozis or other ethnicities. There’s also the issue of monkey meat eating among some Zambian ethnicities!
Once you kill ZAMBEEF you will also kill PROFLIGHT Zambia as the two companies are inter-linked, just imagine the number of unemployed there after. Get that i.d.i.o.t Kampasa and arrest him. Good yield for the lawyers!
Kampasa is not the Lab.Others will come and take up the same industry we don’t care the results of falling ZAMBEEF but our lives.ZAMBEEF will not buy you life from pigs and cows my friend.
My name sake u r a useless person cant you see the CEO is contradicting himself he says we dont import meat except offal s, then he says the meat we import we dont add anything.. there is no sense there coz these chemicals are added where they are coming from and again he says Gregory has been sued for linking Company information..lets wake up guys
@Dr Bill, stop splitting hairs. There are no contradictions!
You chi CEO you are very dull.after all i have been applying and you cant employ me.
How do u conduct ur own test when no one is there? ukana vinthu vili clear.u import offals? and yet you claim u get ur products within zambia. ninshi were u get ur local produts kulibe ma offals…? those offals u import are they from people or cow or mbuzi or galu or donky…? answer us.why cant u buy the same offals within? you are one invester hu is killing us. stupid if ur cot ur cot…Wapaya bambili
Please if ur found guilty you should go and leave our beloved country…
@ Vimbombo, you are spot on. How can Grodno denies the results when his hasn’t even began. I feel that Kapasa should also fall together with his former boss, just because he was not given the his share does not mean he is a savour. He must be the one who was in charge of this infor and for how long, I mean I can only demand for such money if I have my back recurred
Im very disgusted by this news
while this guy’s statement/s may hold a slight of water. The case lies in how the operations and procedures are done. The case could be with the floor managers/supervisors who are pressured to keep preserve meat at all costs regardless whether coolers are working on not, and when the meat goes bad somebody is made to pay for it. Top management’s interest may have just been about profit without much ado how that comes about. There a lot of bad practices within zambeef, such that this scandle is long overdue likely. A visit to any zambeef processing points would tell stories of such. One does not need glasses to see that through. Let them be prosecuted. If they had all the meat imported certified and tested, they need not be defensive but pursue the matter with their suppliers before…
We bought liver from zambeef that did not taste like it. With. With this news i am worried becouse i loved shopping at zambeef outlets.
You ve been embalmed in advance tata.
#BUFI, you crack my ribs! Ati you have been embalmed in advance, hahaha! On a serious note, will someone educate me. Why does the government permit Zambeef to import beef products from Europe or USA? And why only offals? What happens to the offals from the cattle that is slaughtered locally, is it not enough to meet the demand or is it not good enough? Is it cheaper to import from Europe when neighbouring countries like Botswana are currently looking for markets for their beef? Just curious.
Yes Kapasa started this.He even had emails where these murderers were communicating over the expired products.They actually target Komboni outlets.Dont ever buy meat from Komboni,zambeef or shoprite.When they realised that Kapasa had all the information,they took him to his home with bribed cops and searched his home,especially his computor and deleted everything on it.They put up adverts both on tv and print media denouncing him and the same corrupt cops took him to court.This was done in order to intimidate him.To be fair,Kapasa is also a criminal.He brought up all this information out because he was trying to extort money from zambeef.He is not a patriot.If zambeef had paid him,no one could have heard of the embalmed meat.IT IS TRUE ZAMBEEF FEEDS THE NATION WITH EMBALMED MEAT.
Mr Grogan, u surprise me. Why importing offals from UK, IRELAND, US and other countries abroad. U mean zambia and her neighbouring cant supply u with enough meat to feed zambians? After all in zambia we have quality animals that give quality meat.
Bwalya, the demand for offals is simply too much. This is what constitutes ‘beef’ menu to most households. ZAMBEEF is only buying animals from southern province. This is what feeds other provinces like muchinga etc. In other provinces, which ironically pour scorn to those who rear cattle, all the animals have been eaten for ‘umunani’.
@Bwalya, the main reason why Zambeef imports offals from UK, IRELAND, US, and the like is that in most of these countries offals are rarely consumed as food. Unlike in most Asian, Middle Eastern, African, and South American cultures, offals in most European and American cultures are considered waste.
Yes, they do sell offals in certain grocery outlets even here in the States, but these are mostly targeted at immigrant populations from regions I have already mentioned above. And if you go to a specialty Asian grocery store, there you can find everything, even Pig intestines!
So Zambeef buys and imports offals at almost nothing, since they are mainly considered waste in these countries, then Zambeef turns around and makes a killing selling them in Zambia—there is your answer!
If true, Boycott these money hungry scammers. BOYCOTT all Zambeef products, DON’T buy anything until they run into the ground
Kabwalala tasumina nangu ni red handed otherwise there is no smoke without Zambian lets protect our lives our government can protect us in this matter.so it up to individuals to act, stop queuing up for meat products sold by zambeef. tanks to the inspectors. there is no difference between zambeef and city market buturies.
I will only comment ,when I see results from three independent laboratories.
Me I just buy freshest meat ku turnpike when I travel to the outskirts of Monze. Zambeef should just buy steak from the village at least!
As a highly educated and exposed scientist in chemistry, there is no Lab in Zambia right now capable enough to safely detect Aldehydes in imported foods. I recently supervised a Zambian PhD student working with Aldehydes who ended up having to to do her Lab work in Spain because of none existence of facilities capable of safely testing existence of these substances even in the popular use of preserving dead bodies within the Zambian borders. Moreover, exposure to these compounds almost immediately triggers an acute reaction to these chemicals in living humans. This whole thing is circumspect. The chemist, lab and the lab test report on this saga should be made public. Otherwise, It’s a hoax!
Well this is true story, Gregory was employed to ZAMBEEF.This seems he has been hiding the truth to the public because he was a direct beneficiary, now that he is not and that ZAMBEEF failed to pay him accordingly he has to reveal the truth.
Thanks to you Gregory Kalala although you took part in killing our mother Zambia by hiding the truth, due to your bitterness you finally reveal the matter.let ZAMBEEF test those samples in Zambia and it must be meat imported from UK,USA whichever country they imported the meat from togather with local ones and see if the result will not be positive.
and this is the demise of zambeef
they are only her for profit.even if they kill us all,they don’t care,
zambeef is a shame, a disgrace and a muderer.
zambeef must be buried ,the ceo can’t even apologize ,
this shows that they don’t care about us and what happens to us
It is a pitty that this mind set seems to compromise our thinking. We always tend to classify our arguments as “Us and the Others”. Its but human natur, however this is bad for a clear judgement of what’s going on around us!
i find all this confusing as the media cant be trusted. both sides seem to have points of defense. i would have however agreed with the post 100% if they have not been playing the cheap politics that they have been playing of late… by become another compaign mouth piece for PF. this is not to say that i agree with ZAMBEEF’s stand
Am just hoping the guy who tasted the meat positive will be able to hold his findings tight until Zambeef proves itself inocent.
Too much speculation on the matter. It is not so surprising that ZamBeef imports offals from Europe and the USA. You need to know who the major investors in this company are and then you will realize why they would do that. These multinational corporations/investors are always interested in the promotion of their own economies and therefore importing products from those countries would be one aspect. Also, these offals may not have as much the demand as they have in Zambia, they are mostly disposed off as waste products and therefore ZamBeef can import them cheaply for supply to the Zambians who eat them as a delicacy. I have interacted with other people from other parts of the world and most of them do not know offals or that they are actually edible. To ZamBeef, it makes business sense.
ba Styopet ba koswe imwe, nkuku! How do you feed us cr@p! I’ll sue you, fcukng *****s! My restaurant has lost business because of me been a loyal customer you! You will see!!!!!
SOMEONE DEFINITELY HAS TO PAY FOR THIS, I’LL SET AN EXAMPLE ON YOUR A5SES!!!!
“Protocols”? The very self-same protocols employed by scientists everywhere, bwana CEO! Your greed for super profits has now come full circle, calling for accountability. What about deaths and diseases attributable to the consumption of your contaminated offals? Time to own up!
We are used to eating dyed beef in the UK. One just have to look at the colour of the beef and you know it is not a natural red. I have had hoarse meat recently and was not aware.
If this Zambeef saga is true, thumbs up to Kapasa. We need more whistlebrowers especially in our mining companies (before copper is finished) and governement departments so as to promote transparency and accountability. Its uncalled for that our nation can still lack essential things like access to clean water (cities like Ndola are a nightmare), schools (free education and infrastructure), roads among many more. Please let’s stand for mother Zambia and get counted that we once lived. Political divisions will lead us nowhere, we all need and deserve a better Zambia. God bless Zambia.
Monkeys like Kapasa think PF will employ them without any national background economic activity, now tell me why ZAMBEEF (or indeed any other progressive company)companies should employ such retards?
@Kay, it is NOT Kapasa or PF who tested the meet products from Zambeef! It is a govt agency charged with the responsibility of making sure your children, nieces, nephews, sisters, brothers, and the like, are not getting poisoned by eating contaminated food sold by these multinationals. These allegations about Kapasa are just that, ALLEGATIONS—and allegations from the aggrieved party for that matter!
We don’t even know who tipped off these inspectors, or whether it was during routine inspections and testing that they unearthed these problems at Zambeef. But even if it was Mr. Kapasa who blew the whistle, do you really think it is ethical for Zambeef to be feeding your relatives (if you are even Zambian) embalmed meat? Come on man, cut the misplaced hate and think straight!
Also, please do the tests to confirm that they are not horses!
It is possible that Zambeef is being scandalised by someone or by competitors. Surely embalming involves use of about 25% formalin combined with formaldehyde and methanol. This is done to kill bacteria and reduce decomposition. Now for those who may not know these are very strong chemicals with a bad smell and the process of embalming is expensive. Furthermore embalming denatures the protein and the meat may be whitish with a foul smell common at a mortuary. How can zambeef embalm beef at a huge cost? These chemicals are also very poisonus, how can Zambians be embalmed and still be walking around and taking more alcohol with their T-bone?
Don’t jump in to conclusions to kill off the most successful local brand. Let the investigators do their job and government should impose a ban on imported meat from EU. I believe we had a similar issue with dried fish at one point? we need to trace the contaminated meat and find it’s source before crucifying Zambeef.
You can not trust anything that comes out of this PF government anymore. They want to impoverish the people of Zambia and reduce them to beggars in preparation for the next elections. They are convinced that they will rule this country for a long time. HH is a shareholder in Zambeef and they see this as an opportunity to sort him out.
“For us, Mr. Hichilema is more of a competitor because we understand he owns a meat company. “He is not our key supplier” We get most of our products from small scale farmers in Namwala, Choma and places like Kalomo. Those allegations are unfounded and Mr. Hichilema is not connected to Zambeef, we have also heard of those rumours but there is no truth in that.”
I don’t know to me it kind of sounds like HH is to some level connected to Zambeef
“He is not our key supplier” unless ni chi sungu
Not a key supplier to me suggests that you are a supplier but you just not key.
But then again would you come out and say he is a key supplier when he is being investigated??
oh well
What is HH been investigated for? Is he the one who has been importing offals from Europe?
What about the chickens that mature in 15 days? what about cocacola which contains coca leaf from which cocaine is a product?
People think . How can frozen food be embalmed. Doesn’t make any sense at all. Zambeef don’t be intimidated feed the nation.
Is it not routine that any food products and fresh meat for that matter that is imported into the country should be tested ? Zambeef has been around for decades, why has it taken this long for the inspectors to detect these chemicals. If these allegations turn out to be true, many heads should roll.
Truth is when kapasa leaked the emails from Zambeef,one of the most shocking mail was posted on facebook for the institute of Health Inspectors.The mail revealed communication of reconditioning expired livers,kidneys etc.Thats when action was taken to send samples to the lab to check what they were using.The other thing was importing meat products which didn’t show that they were inspected.The first result showed presence of a chemical but without singling which one.After that another lab was identified which managed to detect aromatic aldehydes presence.These results were sent back to inspectors.That’s how the whole copperbelt inspectors moved in and removed these meats from the outlets,of course with authority from the magistrates.Kopulande even started intimidating staff,but failed…
Pf is just wasting its time by trying to bring upnd down instead of just solving the problem of subsidyzzz they have brought in zambia…zambeef and upnd is not the solution to poor roads and sanitation in zambian lural areas. including poor status of agriculture and economic development in zambia..pf is just showing zambians that its taking us to one party participatory system.pilato and petersen has already spoken the minds of almost every zambian citizen..bufi track…and animal farm track.
What is suspicious is the importation of offals from Europe, given the scandals here of meat from horses and all sorts being masqueraded as beef. One has to dread what European suppliers can send to Africa, given the poor standards of checks and tests in countries like Zambia. There is, therefore, a basis for suspicion. Here in the UK, offals are treated with chemicals in order to clean them. That’s a fact. That Grogan does not eat the offals but I am surprised the Zambian managers would sanction statements without due process to ensure that the findings exonerate the company. There are Zambian professionals with skills, knowledge and competences to facilitate that, just ensure that we have dual citizenship.
Next time it will be donkey or horse meat to Africa!!!!
please government to the managing director and the companies you think they were importing the products from and also investigate the person who unveiled to sad story.zambeef products fyaliwamisha