Illegal foodstuffs seized

Environmental health officers from Thanet District Council have discovered nearly half a tonne of illegal food imports, which are now set to be destroyed.

In a joint operation with HM Revenue and Customs and Kent Trading Standards, the officers spent two days investigating cargo that had arrived from Ghana at Kent International Airport in Manston. After inspecting hundreds of boxes described on importation documents as containing vegetables, officers seized 465 kilograms of illegal food imports. This was in addition to the large quantity of other illegal imports seized by the other agencies.

These foods included dried chilli peppers, which were the subject of a national food hazard warning due to contamination with the illegal colouring Sudan Red. It also included a large quantity of unlabelled peanut products, which are subject to special controls because of possible contamination with a carcinogenic mould called Aflatoxin.

Notice has now been served on the importers’ agent, who are responsible for the load, detaining it under import legislation. It is now being held securely until the importer, under the supervision of the council’s officers, destroys the products.

Cllr. Shirley Tomlinson, Cabinet Member from Commercial and Environmental Services, said: “This case highlights the excellent work that the council’s port health inspectors do in helping to protect the country from illegal food products. The team have specialist training that allows them to deal with products coming into the country from outside the European Union. That means checking all flights into Manston for foodstuffs and inspecting products of animal origin in the airport’s Border Inspection Post. It may not be a well known role that the team carries out, but it’s a vital one that helps to ensure everyone’s safety.”

ENDS

Publication date: 28 November 2008