FDA intensifies food safety campaign in Kumasi markets

The Ashanti Regional Office of the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has intensified its outreach programmes to sensitise the public, especially market women, on the need to ensure food safety and discourage the use of additives in food preservation.

Mr. John Laryea Odai-Tettey, Ashanti Regional Head of the FDA, who led the outreach programmes, pointed out that the FDA was committed to comprehensive food safety, adding that, the programme was part of activities marking this year’s World Food Safety Day.

He said: “As the Food and Drug Authority is celebrating World Food Safety Day, a series of activities has been carried out and it is all about education.”

Mr.OdaiTettey detailed efforts to educate market women on protecting food from contaminants and warned against using additives in palm oil and other foodstuffs.

He stressed the importance of hygienic food handling from production and transportation to display in the markets.

“We want to achieve food safety in totality,” he stated, focusing on proper display methods, emphasising “some of them, they put it on the bare floor, and that’s what we are against… they are not supposed to put the food items on the floor to sell, and those that are supposed to be covered, they have to do that,” he stated.

Mr. Odai-Tettey expressed concern about the dangerous practice of some women using formalin to preserve fish and meat and warned that it was illegal and harmful practice, stating that offenders would face severe sanctions.

He called on members of the public to report unhygienic and suspected contaminated food they buy in the market to environmental officers and the FDA for them to take action.

Mr. David Oppong Darko, Regional Environmental Health Officer of the Food and Drug Authority (FDA), said a series of activities had been carried out as part of the World Food Safety celebration.

He said: “Even yesterday, we had one and today we are with the Santasi Market Women, and it is all about education.”

Mr. Darko detailed the FDA’s efforts by indicating that the authority provided education on how to protect the food they are selling from contaminants.

He emphasised the FDA’s commitment to achieving comprehensive food safety.

“We want to achieve food safety in totality, looking at transportation of food items, production, transportation, display at the markets, especially when you come to the market, the way they display the food,” he announced.

He warned against the use of harmful preservatives, saying, “We have heard that some market women are using formalin to preserve the fish and the meat that they are selling.

“And it’s a crime. So, we have made it bare to them that if any of them is doing that, then they should desist, because when the law catches with them, it will not be easy at all”, he warned.

He further urged consumers to be vigilant, advising that “When you go out to buy food items, look at the environment. Don’t just buy from anywhere, look at the environment so that those who don’t sell at the hygienic areas, you avoid them.”

GNA

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