Water in meat products

I write with reference to the letter by F.X. Gauci (December 5).

It is erroneous to say that the Malta Standards Authority is unable to do something about the water content of meat.

The fact is that there are no standards, European or otherwise, regulating the content of water in meat and this is due to the fact that the meat's water content varies according to a number of different factors: the age of the animal, the cut of the meat, the type of animal, and so forth.

As regards poultry, on the other hand, there are European standards which are currently being adopted in Malta but which do not fall within the competence of the Malta Standards Authority but within the Food and Veterinary Division.

I hope this clarifies the matter. For any queries, however, readers are invited to refer to the Malta Standards Authority on 2124 2420 or visit its website on www.msa.org.mt.