Even as the chief of the Public Heath Department of the Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) was speaking about not harming the interests of the meat entrepreneurs during the implementation of the Slaughterhouse and Meat Inspection Act 2055 BS, a group of journalists were being manhandled for capturing the news of dead poultry being stuffed into a cold storage facility at Narayangarh, Chitwan. These two incidents present a dangerous paradox. The implementation of the Meat Act which was brought to ensure that meat consumers get to consume clean and healthy meat and meat products has been highly ineffective as was proven in Chitwan. Similar incidents have been reported in the past in other parts of the country as well.

No doubt the meat entrepreneurs and retailers should not have to fear for their traditional jobs should they abide by the rules and regulations prescribed in the Meat Act but unscrupulous meat sellers who brush aside all concerns of public health should undoubtedly be brought to book. Deadly parasites like hookworm and tapeworm can be transferred from unclean meat products; rotten and stale meat results in upset stomach and other more

serious gastro-intestinal ailments. Those who are not heedful of these facts should be punished as no one has the right to play with the health of the general public.