Atlanta - Consumers should be wary of mobile meat sales that offer "discounted" prices, Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture Tommy Irvin warned.
Commissioner Irvin said that the Department has received numerous complaints about door-to-door meat sales. Consumers who are approached outside of the traditional supermarket or butcher's store setting may not get what they pay for, he added.
"It's human nature to look for a bargain, and unfortunately, there are always a few people around who try to exploit that natural tendency," Commissioner Irvin said.
"Our department inspects every stage of the food production process, from the feed that goes in the cow to the package in which a steak is presented to the consumer. We also license, inspect and regulate every food sales firm in the state. We can regulate food safety, quality and fair practices in the public marketplace, but we cannot, of course, regulate what takes place in a person's own home," he continued.
Commissioner Irvin stressed that before allowing a meat salesman in their home, consumers should ask to see his permit issued by the Georgia Department of Agriculture. Check to see if the items on the permit, such as company name and vehicle license number, are consistent with the vehicle he is driving.
If the salesman has no permit, or if the items on the permit are inconsistent with the vehicle he is driving, do not purchase anything from the salesman and call the Department of Agriculture at 1-800-282-5852, Commissioner Irvin said.
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