BY SAMIE WAIKORI
A warning is being raised on the status of Salt –fish that it can be toxic for human consumption.
Director of National Public Health Laboratory, Mr Dickson Manongi said yesterday that the fish (tuna) contains very high percentage of salt as everybody aware.
Saying the reason is to protect the fish in a distant time to keep them in a safe condition for later processing.
Manongi perhaps said that comparing the salt-fish with other fish catch and sold in the markets they are totally different and one can differentiate their quality.
He said there were number of incidents experienced that people affected of eating salt-fish (tuna).
Saying those were some of the evidences can be traced to the status of the fish.
“I’m not saying that salt fish is toxic, because it never tested here so we can know its status.
“But due to its existence where it’s not normal to other fishes catch and sell in the market, is what exactly draw considerable fear on the status of the fish,” he said.
Manongi however urged responsible authorities to take up initiative and let people know the status of the fish.
“This is by collecting samples of the fish and putting it for test at the NPHL so we can know what it likes for its status.
“Because every food we consume it has a certain temperature when tested, showing the food fits human consumption or not.
“And the temperature ranges from 10 degrees and below. If any food tests and has a temperature above 10 degrees that shows it never fits human consumption,” he said.
Manongi pointed out that there is a need to do something about the issue to ensure the safety of people’s consumption must at all time be safeguarded.
Salt-fish are frozen tuna taken from fishing boats and often sold at cheaper prices in various fish markets in Honiara.
