FDB impounds unwholesome frozen products at Tema Harbour
Officials from the Food and Drugs Board (FDB), on Friday, impounded over 600 cartons of unwholesome frozen products belonging to Servistar Fishing Company at the Tema Harbour.
The company, which deals in the wholesale of fish, pork, cow legs and chicken products was suspected of re-packaging the unwholesome products and selling to the unsuspecting public.
The unscrupulous activities of the management and employees of the fishing company were detected by a team of Fire Service and Police personnel enforcement team, which visited the premises to enforce the Fire Certificate Legislative Instrument.
An official of the Bureau of National Investigation, who was with the team, informed the FDB about the activities of the company, and immediately officials of the FDB went to the place to ascertain the report.
An Inspection at the stinking cold store revealed the products, which were in broken boxes and packed on the bare damp floor, while some of the products have been transferred to another room with house flies hovering around it, a solution tape and weighing scale was also found in the room.
Mr Kwame Nsiah Poku, Officer-in-charge of Food Unit, FDB Tema Harbour, told the press during the inspection that, none of the frozen products were wholesome describing the place as 'horrible'.
Mr Poku said his outfit has asked the Harbour Police to guard the premises of the company to avoid any of the products being taken away for sale, adding that, the FDB would carry out a thorough auditing exercise at all the cold store at the fishing harbour.
He said the cold room temperature was below the required temperature for operating a cold store and said further investigations on the company would be carried out.
Meanwhile Mr Sylvester Spain, Manager of Servistar, who has been arrested by the BNI, denied that the frozen products were unwholesome, saying that, the products had only not frozen as required due to the malfunctioning of the freezing system.
Mr Spain however said his outfit was preparing to dispose off the products, adding that, Servistar has already informed Greenwich Company, owners of the building that the place has been infested with mice.
The fire certificate enforcement team closed down two other fishing companies, Hillpok Limited and Pioneer Co-operative Cold Store Complex Limited in addition to Servistar for operating without a fire certificate.
Two other companies Movelle Cold store Company Limited and Multi-Pro Private Limited, importers of Indomie instant noodles were also given a three day ultimatum to finish the processes of acquiring the certificate, which they have already started.
Mr Jones Sarpong, Tema Regional Fire Safety Officer, who led the team, said the first phase of the exercise carried out last year was very effective, as many companies acquired certificate.
Mr Sarpong said the enforcement of law on fire certificates ensures a high level of safety and protection of the premises and the employees, noting that, some of the companies have faulty fire extinguisher and urged establishments “to service their fire equipments at least twice a year”.