/ 10 June 1999

HEALTH TO MEET OVER BELGIAN SCARE

SENIOR officials from the departments of Health and of Agriculture and Land Affairs are to meet in Pretoria on Wednesday to discuss a health scare caused by the importation of alleged cancer-causing Belgium food products. Department of Agriculture and Land Affairs director for food safety and veterinary public health, Gideon Bruckner said the meeting will look at possible solutions to the problem. South Africans have been warned to stay away from all Belgian dairy, poultry, beef and pork, after scientists found a high level of dioxin, which can cause cancer, in these products.