Those selling seafood will have to undergo training by the Health Ministry.

This is after the death of a woman and hospitalisation of two people after they bought and ate pre-cooked food from the market.

After a meeting with the SCC, the Health Ministry Spokesperson, Iliesa Tora said they've decided that the sale of other seafood will depend on sellers undergoing proper training by the Food Unit of the Ministry.

He said the Ministry supports SCC's decision to ban the sale of pre-cooked food at the market following reports that some vendors have used household chemicals to catch mana or mud crabs.
 
Ministry investigations have revealed that some people were involved in using household bleach and paraquat to lure the mana or mudcrab out of its hole.

He said the Ministry is working on spreading key health awareness messages that will enable vendors to make changes to their personal hygiene habits and for a reduction in the transmission of germs to prepared food.

Tora adds the Health Ministry officer will also meet with the Roko Tui Tailevu and Roko Tui Rewa this week to address issues on proper food handling, personal hygiene and food preparations.

He said that investigation has confirmed that people from the two provinces are mainly involved in selling seafood at the Suva Market and surrounding fish stalls around the Suva and Nasinu area.

Tora is calling on people to refrain from buying cooked foods if they suspect the quality has deteriorated adding they need to report this to the nearest Health Ministry office.

Meanwhile, Lautoka Special Administrator, Josefa Vucago said they have followed the SCC by banning the sale of certain pre-cooked food.