Purnim farmer Allan 'Swampy' Marsh was concerned potentially diseased feathers may have made their way into south-west stores in the form of “angel wings”.
CHOOK feathers which flustered poultry farmer Allan ‘Swampy’ Marsh have been cleared by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF).
The Purnim farmer was concerned potentially diseased feathers may have made their way into south-west stores in the form of “angel wings”.
Mr Marsh bought a pair of the wings, made from real feathers, from a Warrnambool store and said as far as he could ascertain, the feathers had not been treated appropriately. Mr Marsh said the feathers should be treated with gamma radiation and soaked in formalin, then dried and the feathers fluffed.
A spokeswoman for DAFF said feathers and feather products could be imported without a permit providing import conditions were met.
She said if contamination or animal tissue is found on inspection, the feathers are ordered for treatment prior to release from quarantine.
“For the product in question, Angel’s Wings, photos were examined and the feathers appeared clean and without contamination,” she said.
She said the department had not been able to contact Mr Marsh despite repeated attempts.