Translated from Nepal Samachar Patra, October 22
Alternative Pork Processing Industries has developed a new technique for consuming meat for the first time in Nepal. This technique considers animal rights as well as consumers' health, according to the company's director.
Adopting the technique from Germany, the pork processing industry has developed it to make it locally suitable, for which it has employed the 'electric sucking machine' that slaughters animals with minimal physical torture.
According to Ghal Shivahang, the person in charge at the company, animals are subjected to electric shock under their ears, after which they faint and are killed painlessly. They are then transferred to a boiler machine where the fur is plucked and cleaned off. Finally, like in any ordinary processing method, the meat is cut into pieces and stored in the deep freeze.
The machine has been used for the preparation of pork so far, but will soon be used to prepare other meat products as well, says the company's creative director and the machine's inventor Prashant Rai.
The company's meat products are available at its stores in Bhaisepati, Lalitpur. It has four stores within Kathmandu and Lalitpur municipalities till date. Founder member Shanker Rai says that they intend to expand their reach and establish at least 20 stores in the future.
Of the 200 pigs consumed daily in the valley, most are imported. Rai intends to replace these imports and aim for exports as well. Although there is a certain percentage of premium in the price, he is confident that the taste and quality of meat will keep consumers satisfied.
Says Rai: “We must change the average consumer's attitude towards meat-consumption and abide by international criterion of meat processing. Our company's aim is to consult with meat experts and doctors and raise consumer consciousness towards animal rights along with eating hygienic meat.”