A primate expert has revealed that Chimpanzee meat is being sold in Britain markets and served at weddings across the country.
The border authorities have been urged to employ DNA testing to identify meat at customs, and the agency has said it’ll invest in technologies that can help it tackle this issue.
In an interview with The Telegraph, Dr. Ben Garrod, from the University of East Anglia, said he learned from a border official that a large amount of “bush meat” was confiscated on a flight from West Africa to the US.
The scientist claimed the chimpanzee meat is being smuggled into Britain as well as other European countries.
He also revealed how bush meat could lead to serious diseases like Ebola in consumers as the meat is not sanitary and chimpanzees are genetically similar to humans.
Speaking to The Telegraph, Dr. Garrod claimed: “It’s rife. It’s there – it’s in all the major cities across Europe and the US. We have seen bush meat confiscated in the UK in check points at borders and in markets.”
Similar concerns at the smuggling of chimp meat have also been shown by other experts.
“The smuggling of bush meat is a very alarming issue,” said Dr. Jane Goodall, the founder of primate charity the Jane Goodall Institute.
“As Ben Garrod says, there is danger of disease spreading from the bush meat to humans.”
Dr. Garrod claimed bush meat is often consumed as a delicacy at christenings and weddings, and is being sold in many cities in the UK.
It is considered a highly-rated delicacy so it’s being sold at a price five times higher than that of beef.
“From what I know, I can’t imagine why people would want to eat chimpanzee, but most bush meat that comes to the UK is seen as a luxury food – it’s the equivalent of us wanting game,” Dr. Garrod said.
He also pointed out the health hazards that can result from this illegally traded meat, adding that it can lead to the next “big pandemic.”
A spokesperson for the British Border Force said: “We take the smuggling of any contraband extremely seriously.
“As well as working with enforcement and intelligence partners in the UK and internationally, Border Force continues to invest in training and equipment to ensure that we do all we can to intercept illegal foodstuffs and crack down on smugglers.”
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