January 28, 2004

 

 

Chicken Sales in Singapore Down

 

Sales of chicken in Singapore have dipped by 5 per cent in some supermarkets and around 20 to 30 per cent at wet markets, despite no bird flu outbreak in the country.

 

At some wet markets, the fall was even steeper, as much as 50% dip.

 

But most others still reported brisk sales. This includes six wet markets and supermarkets like Carrefour, Cold Storage and NTUC FairPrice.

 

The shift away from buying chicken was more evident at the wet markets.

 

'My business has dropped by about 30 per cent. I have to keep assuring customers that my chickens aren't from Thailand,' said Mr Fu Wee Sia, 55, who has a stall in a wet market at Eunos Crescent.

 

But others took Monday's news of tighter checks on chicken imports here as enough reason not to pass up on that drumstick or wing.

 

Public relations executive Foo Chwan Hann, 28, said: 'I don't see any danger as bird flu is not transmitted by eating chicken, but by handling infected birds.'

 

A check on prices found that chilled chicken prices have remained stable at $4 to $5 per kg. However, prices of frozen chicken parts have gone up.

 

Mr Chiew Kian Huat, secretary of the Poultry Merchants' Association, explained that the import price of frozen chicken parts has risen by 28 to 30 per cent because supplies from Thailand have been banned.

 

While some supermarkets have raised their prices, a spokesman for NTUC FairPrice said: 'We'll hold prices as long as we can.'