Mitigating the David Seymour biosecurity threat
Ali Ahmed made this Official Information request to Ministry for Primary Industries
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From: Ali Ahmed
Dear Ministry for Primary Industries,
According to recent reporting, the so-called 'School Lunch Collective' that David Seymour has contracted to supply students in a deprived socio-economic condition with 'meals' filled with flies and other vermin, is now importing those 'meals' from Australia. While the insects supplied to students by Seymour's collaborators have so far been native, or invasive species already common in NZ, there are many species of pests common in Australia like the Queensland fruit fly and the various species of Carpophilus beetle that could potentially cause severe damage to our ecosystem and agricultural industry if introduced here.
As such, what precautions are being taken by MPI to ensure that the insects in the 'meals' imported by Seymour's contractors at the 'School Lunch Collective'/Compass from Australia are not from invasive species that have not yet been introduced to New Zealand, and that where they are they are at least dead? Specifically, what requirements should be applied about inspection of 'meals' to assess which pests are present, and their refrigeration, and are they being enforced by MPI personnel, or is this being left up to Compass and their subcontractors, who have a documented record of not complying with law and contract conditions?
Cheers,
Ali Ahmed
From: Official Information Act
Ministry for Primary Industries
Kia ora Ali,
Thank you for your official information request received on 15 March 2025.
Your request below will be considered, and a decision provided in accordance with the requirements of the Official Information Act 1982.
If you have any questions regarding this request, please email [email address]
Ngâ mihi,
Official Information Act Team
Government Services | Public Affairs
Ministry for Primary Industries – Manatû Ahu Matua
Charles Fergusson Building, 38-42 Bowen Street | PO Box 2526 | Wellington 6140 | New Zealand
Web: www.mpi.govt.nz
-----Original Message-----
From: Ali Ahmed <[FOI #30427 email]>
Sent: Saturday, 15 March 2025 11:57 am
To: Official Information Act <[email address]>
Subject: Official Information request - Mitigating the David Seymour biosecurity threat
[You don't often get email from [FOI #30427 email]. Learn why this is important at https://aka.ms/LearnAboutSenderIdentific... ]
Dear Ministry for Primary Industries,
According to recent reporting, the so-called 'School Lunch Collective' that David Seymour has contracted to supply students in a deprived socio-economic condition with 'meals' filled with flies and other vermin, is now importing those 'meals' from Australia. While the insects supplied to students by Seymour's collaborators have so far been native, or invasive species already common in NZ, there are many species of pests common in Australia like the Queensland fruit fly and the various species of Carpophilus beetle that could potentially cause severe damage to our ecosystem and agricultural industry if introduced here.
As such, what precautions are being taken by MPI to ensure that the insects in the 'meals' imported by Seymour's contractors at the 'School Lunch Collective'/Compass from Australia are not from invasive species that have not yet been introduced to New Zealand, and that where they are they are at least dead? Specifically, what requirements should be applied about inspection of 'meals' to assess which pests are present, and their refrigeration, and are they being enforced by MPI personnel, or is this being left up to Compass and their subcontractors, who have a documented record of not complying with law and contract conditions?
Cheers,
Ali Ahmed
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From: Ali Ahmed
Hi Rebekah Speake,
Your response was due on, or before, the 11th of this month.
Under the Official Information Act, you may not further extend the response period, as the original response period has expired.
Where is your response? Is it in your drafts folder?
Regards,
Ali Ahmed
From: Official Information Act
Ministry for Primary Industries
Tçnâ koe Ali,
On behalf of Jenny Bishop, Director Food Risk Management, please find
attached a response to your Official Information Act 1982 request.
Kâ mihi,
Ashley Honeywell
Official Information Act Team
Government Services | Public Affairs
Ministry for Primary Industries – Manatû Ahu Matua
Charles Fergusson Building, 38-42 Bowen Street | PO Box 2526 | Wellington
6140
Telephone: 0800 00 83 33 | Email: [1][email address] |
Web: [2]www.mpi.govt.nz
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This email message and any attachment(s) is intended solely for the
addressee(s)
named above. The information it contains may be classified and may be
legally
privileged. Unauthorised use of the message, or the information it
contains,
may be unlawful. If you have received this message by mistake please call
the
sender immediately on 64 4 8940100 or notify us by return email and erase
the
original message and attachments. Thank you.
The Ministry for Primary Industries accepts no responsibility for changes
made to this email or to any attachments after transmission from the
office.
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From: Ali Ahmed
Thanks Ashley,
Unfortunately, your response was unclear. It specifically does not address any precautions and instead states "the complainant and the school have not provided any further details to New Zealand Food Safety, the business unit within MPI responsible for food complaints, on this matter. MPI have no evidence these products contain any introduced
pests or diseases."
This suggests that MPI is taking absolutely no action to rectify the well-known safety problems with Seymour's pest-infested lunches. Is that correct?
Yours sincerely,
Ali Ahmed
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