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Public Relations Officer of The Food and Drugs Authority, FDA Mr. James Lartey has debunked allegations that their outfit has cleared unwholesome frozen chicken backs into the market to be sold to consumers.
Recounting the circumstances surrounding the development, Mr. Lartey explained that on the 21st of October, 2017, the FDA conducted their normal operations at the Tema Harbor as they inspected incoming products that were coming especially, refrigerated containers containing frozen products.
He recounts that the team together with the Veterinary services in the course of their inspections came across ‘White Stone Frozen Foods Limited,’ importers of Nana Frozen Chicken Backs at the ports and discovered in the process that the products smelled bad.
He added that the FDA, upon its observation decided to examine the contents of the container but at a later date due to the amount of time needed for the exercise.
He added that the contents were subsequently sealed awaiting the inspection exercise and directed that the container be cleared to its owners in order to allow for further examinations to be conducted on the products.
Mr. Lartey further explained that the FDA same day went to the company in question to do thorough examinations on the contents of the container and realized that 266 cartons out of the 2800 cartons contained in the container had gone bad and subsequently detached it from the rest of the contents, to be damaged.
According to him, the authority subsequently ordered the company not to sell the cartons that were not found to be unwholesome and subsequently authorized the veterinary services to conduct further research and examination to prove whether it’s wholesome.
He added that, there was another container that they were not able to open to do another examination and instructed them not to clear that container, only to realize on Monday that it had been cleared.
Upon further interrogation, it was revealed that it had been cleared to Techiman and so they called their office in the Brong-Ahafo Region to follow up.
It however came to light that the said container was still in the company’s warehouse and subsequently instructed to the veterinary to carry out examinations and the result is not even out so there is nothing out in the market.
Source: Austin Ofori Addo | ritefmonline.org
