Ready Meal Chef Stored Mackerel in Bathroom, Inches from Toilet
Firefighters responding to a kitchen blaze in Watford, Hertfordshire, made a shocking and smelly discovery when they found a bathtub loaded with mackerel, positioned just centimetres away from the homeowner's toilet. The incident, which occurred in 2024, led to a major food safety investigation and a recent court sentencing.
Businessman's Dubious Operations
Stephen Akuoko, a 62-year-old resident of Watford, had been operating Tribal Foods for over three years, supplying ready meals to local shops. Watford Council's environmental health team had been attempting to locate him after concerns were raised about the company's products, which were found to have inappropriately long use-by dates and insufficient ingredient details.
Prosecutor Michael Coley explained that the business was difficult to track down, and when officers finally contacted Akuoko by phone, he became aggressive and accused them of harassment. The breakthrough came only when firefighters were called to deal with a wok fire at his property, revealing the bathtub filled with fish.
Court Proceedings and Sentencing
At St Albans Crown Court last Thursday, Akuoko pleaded guilty to two food safety offences: contravening food safety and hygiene regulations and failing to comply with a remedial action notice. He had initially claimed that all the food in his property, including the fish, was for personal and family use, but evidence showed he continued to supply unlabelled products to local shops after being warned.
Judge Francis Sheridan condemned Akuoko's actions, stating, 'Your little business got bigger than you could handle and you resorted to frankly disgusting techniques – fish on the floor of the bathroom, fish in the bathtub, and then you cooked them up and sold them.' He emphasized the serious risks of food poisoning, which can lead to death, and noted that such negligence could have resulted in manslaughter charges.
Mitigation and Consequences
In mitigation, defense lawyer Aleister Adamson revealed that Akuoko had previously owned a supermarket until the lease expired, leading to homelessness after a costly legal battle. He was eventually placed in social housing and started Tribal Foods to support himself, operating from a rented kitchen before moving production to his home. The business was never profitable, and Akuoko relied on it for basic living needs without receiving benefits.
Judge Sheridan sentenced Akuoko to two years in custody, suspended for two years, and imposed a five-year ban from operating any food business. He praised the 'dogged' efforts of the environmental health team for their public service.
Council's Response
Justine Hoy, Associate Director of Housing and Wellbeing for Watford Borough Council, commented, 'Food safety laws exist to protect the public. In this case, there was a clear and sustained failure to comply with legal requirements, despite formal enforcement action being taken. We will not hesitate to take action where businesses or individuals put public health at risk.' This prosecution underscores the council's commitment to maintaining high food safety standards in Watford.
