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IOL News
4 days ago
- Health
- IOL News
South Africa faces poultry supply concerns amid Brazilian import ban
Farming associations and agricultural associations have raised concern about the impact of the Department of Agriculture's ban on chicken from Brazil due to an avian influenza outbreak. Image: supplied South Africa is grappling with potential food insecurity this winter after the Department of Agriculture's has banned chicken from Brazil due to an avian influenza outbreak. The ban, effective since May 15, 2023, halts imports of live poultry, eggs, and fresh or frozen poultry meat, raising alarms over the supply of mechanically deboned meat (MDM) and poultry offal critical for affordable processed meats like polony, viennas, and sausages. The Association of Meat Importers and Exporters warned on Wednesday of serious economic and food insecurity consequences for South Africa as a result of the recent outbreak of Avian Influenza (HPAI) in Brazil. 'Local producers cannot, and will not be able to meet the gap in supply of poultry offal (feet, gizzards, and skins) and MDM, driving up prices and threatening the affordability and accessibility of basic protein for millions,' it said. Georg Southey, the manager at Merlog Foods, said on Wednesday said there is likely to be a shortage of 400 million meals per month, which equates to seven meals per person per month across the country. Two weeks of import shipments have already been wasted, and a further 100 million meals will be lost every week if the government continues with business as usual. Southey added that the country has only 2.5 weeks of food reserves in some key categories. 'This will have devastating consequences for food security and exacerbate a dreadful reality that estimates suggest over 30% of South African households in at least four provinces already have inadequate food and often go hungry,' he added. Video Player is loading. 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Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad Loading Arnold Prinsloo, CEO of meat producer Eskort, noted that MDM from Brazil is used by Eskort and its competitors to make polony, viennas, Russians, and Braaiwors. "Production lines will come to a standstill before the end of June if the ban on Brazilian chicken is not lifted. This will deprive South Africa's most vulnerable citizens of more than 400 million low-cost meals per month,' he said. Prinsloo added that vulnerable families and thousands of school feeding schemes rely heavily on polony, and there is a real danger of widespread hunger and malnutrition if Eskort and its competitors cannot sustain supplies. 'The Department of Agriculture, which imposed the Brazil ban on 15 May, should follow the example of Namibia and Mozambique by narrowing the ban to chicken from Rio Grande do Sul, the only state affected by avian flu. The rest of Brazil can be regarded as safe, and a pragmatic and proactive decision to accept imports on that basis will go a long way to heading off the looming crisis in South Africa.' However, Izaak Breitenbach, the CEO of the South African Poultry Association, offered a counterpoint, suggesting the impact on poultry meat supply may be overstated. 'South Africa imports a reduced volume of chicken meat from Brazil, and local production can ramp up quickly, especially as demand typically dips this time of year,' Breitenbach said. While acknowledging a shortage of MDM, which is predominantly imported from Brazil, he noted that South Africa produces minimal MDM domestically and may shift imports to countries like Thailand. 'There will not be a shortage of chicken meat, but MDM supply will be constrained,' he clarified. Investment analyst Anthony Clark from Smalltalkdaily Research said that America and Europe have also reported avian influenza outbreaks. 'Brazil is the biggest exporter of poultry products into South Africa. They have a market share of around 80%, so it is concerning that there is a ban on their products. This means that there is very little chicken coming into this country. However, products that are coming in from Brazil are MDM which goes into processed meat such as polony, viennas, and Russians. The other products that are still coming in from Brazil are chicken offals such as carcasses, heads, and livers.'
Scoop
18-05-2025
- Health
- Scoop
Save The Children Says Budget 2025 Must Commit To Improving Children's Wellbeing
Press Release – Save The Children 'Government budget decisions have a direct impact on the lives and wellbeing of every New Zealander,' says Save the Children New Zealands Advocacy and Research Director Jacqui Southey. Ahead of this week's Budget announcement, Save the Children is calling on the Government to provide greater investment in children following a damning report showing New Zealand ranks among the lowest countries in the OECD for child wellbeing and mental health. UNICEF's global report card – released this week – shows New Zealand ranks 32nd out of 36 wealthy countries analysed for children's wellbeing, while also highlighting New Zealand has the highest youth suicide rate among the 36 -nearly three times the average-and ranks last for child and youth mental health. It also shows that bullying remains a widespread issue, with New Zealand posting the second-highest rate of bullying among children. Other reports from Save the Children's own climate modelling showing the impact of climate change on children's lives, alongside Government statistics, show children's wellbeing, including their physical and mental health, basic needs including food security, housing and access to healthcare are under threat. Additionally, a report released by the Auditor-General, revealed that child-informed budget decisions are critical if we are to avoid harming already vulnerable children and families due to cuts to funding of critical services. 'Government budget decisions have a direct impact on the lives and wellbeing of every New Zealander,' says Save the Children New Zealand's Advocacy and Research Director Jacqui Southey. 'It's clear that greater investment is needed to improve the wellbeing of our children. If New Zealand is to have a prosperous future, we need to invest to ensure our children live good lives now and have bright futures to look forward to. 'New Zealand ranking the worst in the world for youth suicides is devasting. Greater government investment in child health, wellbeing and the essentials they need to live good lives now is critical. We need to ensure that as a nation we are making funding decisions that improve the lives of our children and families.' Ms Southey says investing in children also means investing in families to ensure they have liveable incomes, healthy and affordable housing, enough healthy food and access to quality healthcare and education for all ages. These are the foundations of a healthy thriving society. 'The grim reality for many New Zealand families living on the lowest incomes is that they are struggling to afford the very basics. The high cost of housing, food, and electricity, combined with growing unemployment particularly for youth, increased numbers of avoidable hospital admissions and rising child poverty levels are all worrying signs that life is very tough for thousands of New Zealand families, and it is those families who will struggle most in the event of a climate emergency. 'Targeted investment is needed in ensuring liveable incomes for all families, alongside a greater focus on climate emissions reduction and investing in climate resilient child-critical services.'
Scoop
17-05-2025
- Health
- Scoop
Save The Children Says Budget 2025 Must Commit To Improving Children's Wellbeing
Ahead of this week's Budget announcement, Save the Children is calling on the Government to provide greater investment in children following a damning report showing New Zealand ranks among the lowest countries in the OECD for child wellbeing and mental health. UNICEF's global report card - released this week - shows New Zealand ranks 32nd out of 36 wealthy countries analysed for children's wellbeing, while also highlighting New Zealand has the highest youth suicide rate among the 36 -nearly three times the average-and ranks last for child and youth mental health. It also shows that bullying remains a widespread issue, with New Zealand posting the second-highest rate of bullying among children. Other reports from Save the Children's own climate modelling showing the impact of climate change on children's lives, alongside Government statistics, show children's wellbeing, including their physical and mental health, basic needs including food security, housing and access to healthcare are under threat. Additionally, a report released by the Auditor-General, revealed that child-informed budget decisions are critical if we are to avoid harming already vulnerable children and families due to cuts to funding of critical services. "Government budget decisions have a direct impact on the lives and wellbeing of every New Zealander," says Save the Children New Zealand's Advocacy and Research Director Jacqui Southey. "It's clear that greater investment is needed to improve the wellbeing of our children. If New Zealand is to have a prosperous future, we need to invest to ensure our children live good lives now and have bright futures to look forward to. "New Zealand ranking the worst in the world for youth suicides is devasting. Greater government investment in child health, wellbeing and the essentials they need to live good lives now is critical. We need to ensure that as a nation we are making funding decisions that improve the lives of our children and families." Ms Southey says investing in children also means investing in families to ensure they have liveable incomes, healthy and affordable housing, enough healthy food and access to quality healthcare and education for all ages. These are the foundations of a healthy thriving society. "The grim reality for many New Zealand families living on the lowest incomes is that they are struggling to afford the very basics. The high cost of housing, food, and electricity, combined with growing unemployment particularly for youth, increased numbers of avoidable hospital admissions and rising child poverty levels are all worrying signs that life is very tough for thousands of New Zealand families, and it is those families who will struggle most in the event of a climate emergency. "Targeted investment is needed in ensuring liveable incomes for all families, alongside a greater focus on climate emissions reduction and investing in climate resilient child-critical services."
Telegraph
17-04-2025
- Telegraph
The most romantic hotels in the Lake District for a relaxing retreat
There are plenty of deliciously romantic hotels in the UK, but as the home of the Romantic Poets – Wordsworth, Southey, Coleridge – it should be no surprise that, with such sublime scenery, the Lake District has responded with some seriously special places to stay. Some are buildings – often historic – which either capture the views or sit amidst romantic gardens and woodland; some offer high degrees of privacy, often with treats such as secluded hot tubs and terraces; while others are just unashamedly seductive in their bold or flirty room design and furnishings with lashings of velvet, mirrors and moody lighting. Here's our pick of the most romantic hotels in the Lake District. How we review Every hotel in this curated list has been visited by one of our expert reviewers, who are usually hosted on a complimentary basis. They stay for a minimum of one night, test at least one meal and trial other experiences that the hotel might have to offer. Brimstone Lake District, Cumbria, England 9 Telegraph expert rating This modern, chalet-style retreat is tucked amongst a profusion of woodland, in one of the area's finest fell-walking valleys. The building resembles a rather grand ski chalet, though inside, by contrast, all is smooth and calm with soft carpets, sleek oak doors, wide corridors, moody landscape photographs and a soothing palette of milky coffee, muted bronze and pale grey. Ease aching limbs after a day spent outdoors with a full-body treatment featuring stretching techniques and hot ceramic pods, then head over to the bubbling indoor-outdoor pool for a dip. There's also a Finnish sauna, an ice fountain and various relaxation spaces. The Samling Lake Windermere, Lake District, England 9 Telegraph expert rating The Samling sits above the eastern shores of Windermere in acres of gardens and pasture, with woodland behind and head-swivelling views of the lake and fells beyond. It's more townhouse than country house, and the 12 bedrooms are perfectly executed studies in creamy calm: think powder-soft carpets, milky walls, velvet sofas, pillow-heaped beds and the sleekest of furniture. There's space to relax indoors or outdoors, with a sitting room and snug 'library', a hot tub and a private lake jetty. Unexpectedly, for a small hotel, there's a choice of dining options: either a bells-and-whistles, fine dining taster menu in the main glass-walled restaurant, or more casual à la carte in The Gathering, a converted Dutch barn. Both have sensational views over the water and grounds. Rothay Manor Ambleside, Lake District, England 9 Telegraph expert rating This is a smart, country house-style hotel with relaxing, elegantly understated bedrooms and some excellent walking routes nearby. Two sitting rooms, both with fires, overlook the gardens and south-facing broad terrace, the latter invitingly set with tables and chairs. Bedrooms are generous in size and are the sort you can happily lounge around in – soft-coloured walls are jazzed up with bold wallpapers; big beds have blanket throws and pale-painted furniture is offset by chunky leather tables. The eight Pavilion suites are in a league of their own, with deep velvet sofas, floor-to-ceiling windows and willow-fenced patios. Breakfast is a delight with a delicious 'starter' of fruit salad, compote, granola and yogurt, followed by an excellent cooked choice, and in the evenings there's a choice of dining: either three-AA-Rosette menus or a bistro offering. Gilpin Hotel & Lake House Lake Windermere, Lake District, England 9 Telegraph expert rating This property is the epitome of an elevated, modern country hotel. It's set on the eastern edge of the Lake District National Park, on a minor road between Kendal and Bowness, and offers plenty of luxuries, from private hot tubs and saunas to Michelin-starred dining, as well as legions of staff. The 36 rooms vary widely but were all designed with fanatical attention to detail and dedication to comfort. The emphasis on design has been turned up a notch in the Garden Suites and Spa Lodges, while the six Lake House rooms offer the most privacy. If you can rouse yourself, maps for walking routes can be borrowed. Otherwise, there's a spa with two treatment rooms and a rooftop garden with a pond and hot tubs. Linthwaite House Windermere, Lake District, England 9 Telegraph expert rating A relaxed country house hotel without the swags and fuss but with plenty of stylish warmth and comfort – and a Simon Rogan restaurant. It's close to the honeypots of Bowness and Windermere yet cocooned in gardens and with stunning views, meaning you need never leave. For real peace and privacy, opt for one of the six suites in the chalet-style buildings set in the grounds, a five-minute walk (or quick buggy ride) from the main hotel. With floor-to-ceiling windows – the best glimpsing the lake through trees – these are sleek, Scandi-style affairs with oak floors, textured wool upholstery, and coffee and cream tones; the biggest with real fires. Randy Pike Ambleside, Lake District, England 9 Telegraph expert rating This large, flamboyant, neo-Gothic villa – with its scalloped eaves and central tower – originally belonged to nearby Wray Castle, a 19th-century faux affair. It's set atop a small hillock, two miles south of Ambleside, and feels very private. With their super-size everything – beds, sofas, bathrooms, garden views, cupboards of treats – the four bedrooms are ridiculously spoiling; only a diehard minimalist would feel uncomfortable. Expect pitch-pine floors, bold statement wallpapers, feather-boa-trimmed lampshades and velvet-trimmed silk curtains. Breakfasts are served in the room, and they don't skimp on the finer things: linen napkins, colourful china, Laguiole cutlery and shiny cloches to keep hot food hot. For evenings, the owners have good knowledge of local places in both Hawkshead and Ambleside. • The best hotels with spas in the Lake District Applegarth Villa Hotel Windermere, Lake District, England 9 Telegraph expert rating This adults-only luxury retreat is set in a Victorian villa in a secluded yet central Windermere location. It has been brought stylishly into the 21st century, while still retaining the richness of the original building. Parquet floors, oak panelling and grand stained glass windows form the background to bold wallpapers, statement chandeliers and jewel-bright velvet chairs and sofas. Bedrooms have been meticulously put together with a bold sense of style, and in-room massages can be arranged. The bar is a sophisticated affair opening onto the conservatory restaurant, and for warmer days, there's a large outdoor terrace – it's west-facing, so ideal for watching sunsets. The Cranleigh Boutique Lake District, Cumbria, England 8 Telegraph expert rating The Cranleigh Boutique is an adults-only, luxury B&B, close to Lake Windermere, with rooms and suites designed for romance and seduction. The solid, slate-built exterior of the Edwardian villa gives little away. Step inside, however, and the gold-flecked wallpaper, statement chandeliers and gilt hostess trolleys invitingly stocked with champagne suggest this is way beyond your average stay. This is confirmed when you open your room door and are hit by a swirl of crushed velvet, nightclub colours, theatrical lighting and a fair amount of bling. It's breakfast-only, though for evening meals, guests receive a discount at the hotel's two sibling establishments, both less then a five-minute walk away. Askham Hall Penrith, Cumbria, England 9 Telegraph expert rating This grand hotel, the medieval family home of the Earls of Lonsdale, offers authentic country house living in stately surroundings: vast rooms, scattered antiques and a well-worn but comfortable, informal and inviting air. There's a vaulted library with an honesty bar, plus a self-operated sauna. Outside there's a small, heated pool, but the real joy is the gardens with lawned terraces, colourful borders, vast topiary, a tangle of woodland and a substantial kitchen garden. Monthly dinners are held in the panelled, candle-lit private dining-room. Guests can explore the surrounding landscapes, fish on the rivers Eden and Lowther, or in the warmer months, take a dip in the heated outdoor swimming pool. • The best Lake District hotels with hot tubs The Windermere Suites Windermere, Lake District, England 8 Telegraph expert rating A bold and unashamedly sexy b&b with lashings of black and silver. Glass tables and white or silver-leaf-painted designer furniture – including French baroque-style beds – add bling while bathrooms are dark affairs with huge air-baths and mood lighting. Meals are served in-room on smart black trolleys and Villeroy and Boch white china, and the minibar is well stocked with a good choice of beers, spirits, wines and champagne at very reasonable prices. Attractions such as Dove Cottage in Grasmere, pretty Hawkshead village, Ambleside's shops and Beatrix Potter's house are within 20 to 30 minutes' drive.
