SOLTAI Fishing and Processing Limited (SPFL) yesterday denied a Solomon Star report that they receive contaminated catch from National Fisheries Development (NFD) and processed them into canned products.
General Manager Thomas Dorku said National Fisheries Development did not deliver any fish to Soltai from the voyage preceding the accident and Soltai did not receive any of the fish from the said catch.
"Secondly, no finished products whether canned or frozen are on hold for the reasons mentioned in the article," he said.
Well-placed sources told the Star that a fish catch contaminated by ammonia gas was processed into finished products despite the fish meal looking unusual.
The canned products are said to be sold at cheaper prices by certain senior officers.
But Mr Dorku explained that Soltai like any tuna processing business does encounter quality issues during its normal operations from time to time, which may be due to different reasons.
"Some quality issues may be related to the nature of the fish itself even before it was caught from the sea.
"Others may be due to technical failures of equipment or deviations from standard requirements during the processing.
"The effect of these natural or other causes may result in poor texture, different meat colours, usually green, pinkish, orange or higher levels of histamine that can develop in tuna.
"Most of these deviations are not noticeable only when the fish is cooked," he said.
Mr Dorku explained that whatever the cause may be, the factory has an effective well documented Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) system in place which monitors processes and products at many different stages of the operation, together with corrective measures actions taken.
"Any meat which is found to be unwholesome, unfit for human consumption or does not meet our product specification are isolated by well trained quality control personnel and is separately processed into fishmeal," he said.
He said the Soltai Management will soon launch an investigation into the reported sale of any Soltai canned products at half price.
Mr Dorku cited that 180g Solomon Blue regular is sold at their warehouse at $198.00 for a carton of 48 cans.
"This is equal to $4.12 per tin.
"So it is not surprising that retailers are selling at $5 or less in the shops.
"Any can of 180g Solomon Blue sold below $4.12 is being sold below the wholesale price which retailers can do if they wish," he said.
Any product found to be defective should be reported to Soltai without delay, the Soltai boss said.
"We therefore ask everyone in the country to continue patronise Soltai's safe, high quality products.
"Anyone coming across Soltai products selling at suspicious price should contact the Soltai office in Honiara or Noro," he said.
By MOFFAT MAMU
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