Court okays destruction of consignment of five tonnes of dry fish

A court in Lodwar has granted the Public Health department permission to destroy five tonnes of dry fish believed to have been contaminated with a lethal chemical.

Turkana Central Public Health officer Lumbasi Rapando sought orders from Lodwar magistrate court to have the fish destroyed.

According to a report by the government chemist presented in court, the fish was contaminated with an insecticide called Dudu Dust (Sevin).

The report noted that Dudu Dust is harmful to human health if ingested.

Rapando said the five tonnes of dry fish was seized at a store at Kalokol, awaiting to be exported to the Democratic Republic of Congo.

“I made an application to the court for the destruction of the seized fish in an affidavit sworn in on September 15, 2021. The court granted the request. I had earlier issued a notice revoking the use of Dudu dust in human food and was ignored,” said Rabando.

In an affidavit, Rabando said, on January 11, 2019, he had advised on the recommended chemicals to be used on food.

“Take notice that the use of Dudu Dust as a pesticide for control of insects infestation in dried fish is not acceptable as it is harmful to human health, and therefore be stopped immediately,” read the statutory notice in parts.

“We recommend the use of Actelic powder or any other approved pesticide that does not injure the health of a consumer,” he said.

Lumbasi said the court had ordered the owner of the seized fish to foot the cost for the destruction of the fish.   


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