Israeli Authorities Seize Hundreds of Kilograms of Illegal Meat in Shfaram Ahead of High Holidays

Israeli Agriculture Ministry inspectors and police recently confiscated approximately 780 kilograms of meat from illegal slaughter in a butcher shop in Shfaram. The meat originated from 26 lambs slaughtered outside of licensed slaughterhouses without veterinary supervision, raising public health concerns. Following a veterinary order, the seized meat was destroyed. The shop owner, who has a prior record, was summoned for investigation and is expected to face fines.

Illegal slaughter, known as "black slaughter," bypasses mandatory veterinary checks before and after the process and lacks oversight on hygiene, refrigeration, and transportation conditions. Ahead of the Jewish High Holidays (Tishrei), when demand for meat products rises, the Agriculture Ministry and Food Security are intensifying enforcement efforts nationwide to detect and prevent unregulated meat from reaching consumers.

The ministry urges consumers to purchase meat only from authorized and supervised businesses, ensuring packaging is original, sealed, and properly labeled with production and expiration dates. Moshe Ahark, head of the Central Enforcement and Investigation Unit at the Agriculture Ministry, emphasized the health risks posed by meat from illegal slaughter and pledged increased enforcement actions during the holiday season to confiscate unregulated meat and prosecute offenders.