Monrovia – The government of Liberia through the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Commerce has confiscated 2,754 barrels of meat contaminated with Salmonella that was brought in the country by Cheaituo Brother Incorporated.
Report by J. H. Webster
Salmonella infection is a common bacterial disease that affects the stomach. The bacteria typically live in animal and human intestines and are shed through feces. Humans become infected most frequently through contaminated water or food.
Addressing a joint press conference at the Ministry of Commerce Wednesday, January 16, 2019 the Minister of Health Dr. Wilhelmina Jallah said because of their coordination with other countries, on December 13, 2018, they got an alert from the European Commission about contaminated meats that were made with Salmonella.
Although the Minister Jallah did not give the name of the company the contaminated meat came from, she said it came from Europe.
“We immediately connected the Ministry of Commerce about the contaminated meats that were made with Salmonella that came from one slaughter house in Europe and was brought by Cheaituo Company here in Liberia,” the Health Minister said.
Minister Jallah added: “Once we got the information, immediately we proceeded to the company that brought the contaminated products and we were able to confiscate 2,754 barrels.”
The Minister of Health added that they have been running tests on all of the barrels to confirm whether or not the products are Salmonella poison.
“For now, all of the products we received are out of the markets for the safety of the Liberian people,” Minister Jallah said.
“Therefore, as soon as we get all of the final result from the testing which will be made upon in eight to 10 days the Ministry of Commerce will be able to tell you the name of the company the Salmonella poison was taken from. We are not saying all of the foods on the market are contaminated but we know that the ones from that slaughter house by Cheaituo are contaminated, she added.
Also speaking, the Minister of Commence Wilson Tarpeh said they are conducting a testing at the standard lab in the compound of the Ministry of Public Works. He said, action will be taken against the company if the products are tested positive.
According to Minister Tarpeh, the Ministry of Commerce is putting measures into place to curtail unwholesome products from entering the Liberian market.
“Beginning March of this year, anything that will come into the country, the company will have to send in their samples of their products for testing before they can put it on the Liberian market.”