Monrovia – The Government of Liberia through the Ministry of Commerce and Industry has disclosed that testing conducted on pig meats brought in the country by Cheaitou Brothers Incorporated showed signs of Salmonella poison.
Report by Webster C. H.
According to the electronic encyclopedia, Wikipedia.com, Salmonellosis is a symptomatic infection caused by bacteria of the Salmonella type. The most common symptoms are diarrhea, fever, abdominal cramps, and vomiting. This typically occurs between 12 hours and 36 hours after exposure with symptoms lasting from two to seven days.
Cheaitou Brothers Incorporated is one of the major importers of frozen food in the country.
On January 16, 2019, the government of Liberia through the Ministries of Health and Commerce confiscated 2,754 barrels of pig meats contaminated with Salmonella that was brought in the country by Cheaituo Brothers Incorporated.
The decision to confiscate and quarantine the unwholesome pig meats came as result of an alert by the European Union (EU) to the Liberian government.
The EU issued an alert to the Health Ministry that a business house in the country was bringing in a consignment of contaminated pig-feet from a slaughter house located in Europe.
After confiscating and quarantining, the Ministry of Commerce then conducted a full testing at the National Standard Laboratory in the compound of the Ministry of Public Works.
Addressing journalists Wednesday, January 30, the Minister of Commerce and Industry Wilson Tarpeh, said the health of every Liberian will be protected under the George Weah-led government.
“The outcome of the testing that was conducted by our technical team at the National Standard Laboratory shows that majority of the samples of the pig meats submitted for testing was contaminated with salmonella,” Minister Tarpeh said.
The Ministry of Commerce and Industry head added: “Inasmuch as government welcomes an open and participatory market, it will not equally condone harmful business practices in the country.
“Let the message go forth that the Ministry of Commerce and Industry remains committed to ensuring that anyone found in any business practice that endangers the health of the Liberian people will be made to account for their actions in accordance with law,” Minister Tarpeh said.
According to the Commerce Minister, investigation is ongoing to identify whether the frozen food company intentionally brought the contaminated pig meats into the country.
He added that if it is established that Cheaitou Brothers Incorporated knowingly brought the unwholesome meats in the country, penalty will be taken against the company.
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