Rotting boxes of meat were destroyed in Pangai, Ha’apai on Friday, April 6 after arriving in unrefrigerated containers on the MV ‘Otuanga’ofa ferry from Tongatapu.

Some 62 boxes of chicken, seven boxes of salted beef, 28 boxes of hot dogs, one box of chicken wings and two boxes of mutton flaps were found to be unfit for consumption and were destroyed the same day by the authorities, including officers from MAFFF (Ministry of Agricutlure) and MCCTIL.

Metuisela Falesiva, Head of the Food Division said said today officials from their Ministry who were in Ha'apai for a National Food Safety campaign, 'Be Sure' said initial inspections showed compliance until the rotting chicken and meat arrived on the ferry.

“We do not condone sub par standards, regardless of how it came to be in that unfit state. Retailers need to ensure proper storage, factoring in poor weather and possible shipping delays so that meat is packaged and stored properly because we are talking about people’s lives.”

He said the contaminated consignments were shipped in a few unrefrigerated containers on the ferry last week. The cargo left Tongatapu and travelled to Vava’u, where it was delayed due to bad weather and then finally shipped to Ha’apai.

He said the putrid smell led officers to the consignments and they followed through by revisiting five foreign-managed shops where the contaminated chicken, salted beef, hot dogs, chicken wings and mutton flaps was consigned to. These were confiscated and destroyed, he said.

National Food Safety campaign

Apart from the inspections, a workshop with retailers, wholesalers and food handlers on food safety was also held where some the materials funded by the Food and Agriculture Organization were given out, he said.

“We were being proactive and Ha’apai really is manageable and at a satisfactory level so we were quite dismayed that this incident happened on Friday. We will continue with follow ups because food safety is key to the health of our people.”

Retailers were asked to be vigilant in complying with the Food Safety Act.