The recently intercepted salmonella-infested gizzard impounded at the Port of Tema following a tip-off from the Brazilian embassy has finally been destroyed by the Customs Division and the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA)
A joint team comprising the Customs division of the Ghana Revenue Authority, Veterinary services, GPHA Intelligence, Ports Health Services, National Security, Bureau of National Investigation, etc., destroyed the infested gizzard at the Kpone Dumping Site on Wednesday 4th March 2020.
Dr. Asiedu Baah, Director of Veterinary Services said although they are able to bury the unwholesome gizzard infested with salmonella, certain impediments hindered their ability to destroy the products which had been impounded for over a month now.
Disturbingly, Dr. Baah revealed that the nefarious importers of the infested gizzards had already sneaked three containers out and succeeded in selling the products to the unsuspecting Ghanaians.
Earlier, officials at the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) in a rather bizarre prescription, claimed the salmonella infested gizzard can be eaten if it is simmered in high heat.
“This gizzard, if you cook it, whatever bacteria you are talking about is nullified through the heat. So in actual fact, this is not something that we should even be worried about,” the Head of Corporate Affairs at the FDA, James Lartey, told Accra-based Citi News.
The containers which were marked as contaminated were imported from Brazil into the country in 2019.
Officials of the Veterinary Service Directorate of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA), however, impounded the containers shortly on arrival at the Tema port, following an alert from Brazilian Authorities.
But Mr. Lartey said the importers of the four 40-footer containers of salmonella infested gizzard did not err because they had the requisite certification.
Even though the names of the two companies that imported the contaminated gizzard have not been officially disclosed, Whatsup News is gathering the Chief Executives of the companies are well-connected to the figures in the government administration.