ER Food and Drugs Board destroys unwholesome fish

The Eastern Regional Secretariat of the Food and Drugs Board (FDB), on Thursday destroyed 400 cartons of unwholesome fish confiscated from a cold store in Koforidua.

The cold store, Julienoch, belonging to one Ms Beatrice Baidoo, and located at a lorry station close to the offices of the Social Security and National Trust (SSNIT) in Koforidua, was storing fish without refrigeration, thereby making the area stink.

Speaking to newsmen after the fish was conveyed to a dumping site for destruction, the Regional Director of FDB, Mr George Penstil, said his office had a phone call from an anonymous caller, who reported the situation.

He said they quickly rushed to the area and realized that the whole area “smelled badly” and confronted Ms Baidoo.

Mr Penstil said they realized that Ms Baidoo was keeping the unwholesome fish to sell to consumers even in that bad state.

He said a check on the fish revealed that they were infected with maggots, had turned yellowish and were oozing some fowl smelling water.

Mr Penstil expressed worry over the situation, saying it was a bad habit, which needed to be checked and that his outfit would do everything possible to deal with such situations.

He cautioned the general public not to buy unwholesome fish since it could cause their death or serious sickness and asked all to report such situations to his outfit as soon as possible.

When Ms Baidoo was questioned by newsmen, she said the motor of her refrigerator got spoilt and that the situation was also due to power outage in the area.**