Advertisement

Belfast residents warned not to eat fish from street spill

Some residents said they intend to eat the mackerel despite warnings from the Belfast City Council.

By Ben Hooper
Subscribe | UPI Odd Newsletter

BELFAST, Northern Ireland, Jan. 27 (UPI) -- Officials in the Northern Ireland capital are warning residents not to eat mackerel plucked from the road after a truck dumped its load of fish.

The truck, which police said has been identified, dumped an estimated 600 fish onto Belfast's Ravenhill Road Saturday and photographs taken at the scene show some residents collecting the mackerel to take home.

Advertisement

Resident Tommy Bardsley said he bagged 25 mackerel.

"It's all fresh fish, I'll have some for dinner and freeze the rest," said Tommy Bardsley, a local man who told The Belfast Telegraph he collected 25 mackerel from the scene. "I know fish and can tell they were just off the boat."

However, a Belfast City Council spokeswoman said officials are warning against eating the road fish.

"We would strongly advise against the consumption of food where you are not clear as to its source or if it is safe to eat," the spokeswoman said. "In any event, there is a possibility of the fish being contaminated through direct contact with the road, rendering it unfit for human consumption."

The spokeswoman said most of the fish was picked up by street cleaners.

Advertisement

"Responding to a call on our environmental health line, and to ensure traffic was able to flow freely, City Council cleansing services helped remove up to 600 mackerel," she said.

Police said the driver of the truck did not stop and may not have known about the spill.

"Police have identified the lorry and its company but as it is a weekend we will have to wait until Monday before it reopens," a police spokeswoman said Sunday.

Latest Headlines