A Fishy Business!
Warwickshire County Council Trading Standards has uncovered some 'fishy goings on’ following a complaint received by a Warwickshire woman who paid £160 for what she believed were trays of halibut, salmon and Dover sole, sold to her by a door to door seller.
The top tray contained some salmon, but the trays below included some Vietnamese rockfish, haddock, a piece of cod, a piece of plaice and one fish without a label.
The fish was being sold door to door by men with Northeast accents.
Mark Ryder, Head of Warwickshire Trading Standards said:
“Many people have fond memories of bygone days when the local fishmonger would sell his fish door to door on a weekly basis, and indeed some reputable fishmongers still do trade in this way with regular customers.
However, we would warn people to beware of fish salesmen who turn up on their doorstep and are never seen again. Our experience is that the fish they are selling may not be as described, or have been properly weighed or packaged, and may not have been kept in refrigerated conditions.”
Consumer who believe they have been mis-sold fish can contact Consumer Direct West Midlands on 08454 04 05 06.
Anyone with concerns about food safety issues should contact their District Council Environmental Health department.
Consumers should also be wary of purchasing other types of non-labelled frozen food products on the doorstep.
Consumer Direct is a Government-backed telephone and online consumer advice service which works in partnership with Local Authority Trading Standards. It provides clear, practical and impartial advice and information to help consumers resolve problems and disagreements with suppliers of goods and services.
Consumer Direct is available from 0800-1830 Monday to Friday, and 0900-1300 Saturday, excluding bank and public holidays. Calls cost a maximum of 4 pence per minute from a BT landline. Calls from mobiles or other networks may vary. Your service provider may charge a minimum cost per call. The advice and information given is free.