Tema Port Health stops the sale of frozen chicken

Tema, Dec 22, GNA - The Tema Port Health (TPH) on Monday stopped the sale of 6,992 cartons of frozen Spanish chicken currently stored in a cold store at Tema until it has been tested by the Foods and Drugs Board (FDB) to be sure of its wholesomeness.

The TPH has alerted the public not to patronise the layers packed in a white carton with the inscription ''MONTEALBERO S. A. 17-18- APDO, CORREOs 189, 45100 ALCAlA de GUADAIRA (SEVILLA) TELF 654100111, 954100112 and fax number 95410282.''

This follows a report made by Mrs Elizabeth Panford, an hotelier, who bought a carton of the chicken for 120,000 cedis last Friday, and realised that its contents were rotten.

She said when she opened the carton and realised that it had some foul scent she returned it to the company, ''TAJ Investment Limited'' for replacement ''but the Lebanese sales officer was rude towards me and threw the invoice on the ground for me to pick.''

The sales officer, however, replaced it but the second carton given to her was also bad so she took it to the Port Health that promised to investigate.

This morning, the officials together with the Health Officers of the Tema Municipal Assembly made random sampling among the lot for onward submission to the FDB.

Mr Edward Sakah, Port Health Superintendent, said the consignment would be destroyed if it is proved to be unwholesome and warned that the staff would face the law if they flout the order and go ahead to sell to the public.