UK Bans Ghanaian Food Trader After Fish Found Stored in Bathroom Bathtub Next to Toilet

A Ghanaian businessman has been banned from running any food business in the United Kingdom after authorities found raw fish stored in a bathtub beside a toilet, which was later used in meals sold to the public.

Stephen Akuoko, 62, operated a food business in Watford, Hertfordshire, under the name Tribal Foods for over three years. He supplied ready-to-eat meals to supermarkets and local shops.

An investigation by environmental health officers began after products linked to his business were found in shops with excessively long use-by dates and missing ingredient information. Some items were later described by officials as unsafe for consumption.

The case escalated after firefighters responded to a fire at his home on Haines Way in October 2024. During the response, they discovered large quantities of fish stored inside a bathtub and on the bathroom floor next to a toilet.

Despite telling investigators he would stop trading, officers later found Tribal Foods products still being sold in a local shop. CCTV evidence showed Akuoko making multiple deliveries shortly after the fire incident.

At St Albans Crown Court, he admitted offences relating to food safety and failure to comply with enforcement notices. He received a two-year suspended prison sentence and a five-year ban from operating any food business.

Prosecutors told the court that when officers first investigated, Akuoko was difficult to trace and reacted aggressively during phone contact. He later claimed the food found at his home was for personal use.

During sentencing, the judge criticised the handling and preparation of food, describing the conditions as unacceptable and warning that such practices could have led to serious illness or death.

The court also acknowledged the work of environmental health officers, who continued the investigation despite repeated setbacks.

A council official said the case showed a clear breach of food safety regulations and reaffirmed the authority’s readiness to act against practices that put public health at risk.