Regional News of Thursday, 17 May 2007

Source: GNA

TMA Health/Environment Committee destroys unwholesome chicken

Tema Manhean, May 17, GNA - Personnel from Tema Municipal Assembly (TMA) Sub Committee on Sanitation, Health and Environment on Wednesday destroyed 160 cartons of unwholesome frozen chicken being smoked and sold to the public at reduced price.

Silver Platter Company, the warehouse that sold the chicken has been sealed off and the owner whose name was not disclosed would be prosecuted for selling unwholesome meat to consumers.

Mr Peter Amuzu, Tema Municipal Chief Environmental Health Officer (CEHO) told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Tema that the personnel were on special rounds to inspect the handling of meat and fish products in the cold stores and among fishmongers.

He said at Tema Manhean they saw some women smoking the chicken and out of curiosity approached them and realised from the colour that they were unwholesome.

Mr Amuzu said the chicken were seized and compelled the women to lead them to the cold store where they bought them. He said at the cold store, they met one Jacobs the administrator/secretary who informed the personnel that the owner of the chicken was not available.

Mr Amuzu said they ordered them to stop further sale of the chicken and sealed the premises for investigations. He said the women involved would be issued with certificate of destruction to enable them claim a refund from the owner of the chicken. The women, Madam Akua Oforiwaa and Madam Elizabeth Commey claimed that they were not aware the chicken was unwholesome but the management of Silver Platter Company blamed them for not preserving the chicken well.

Mr Amuzu advised the public to desist from buying roasted chicken from the market since they were unsafe and unhygienic for human consumption.