News

FDA sensitises public to food safety

The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) on Thursday launched a food safety campaign at the Kaneshie Market in Accra to sensitise the public to food safety precautions ahead of the Christmas festivity.

The exercise, which formed part of the FDA’s routine activities, was to ensure that people consumed safer food before, during and after the festive season to avoid food borne diseases.

The Head of Food Safety Consumer, Education Department at the FDA, Madam Faustina Atupra, addressing the market women, said the sensitisation exercise was to educate the public on the need to consume safer food.

She said there was the need to enhance the sensitisation exercise since we were approaching the festive season, when people were susceptible to food borne disease resulting from unwholesome food they consumed.

The education was centred on environmental hygiene, food safety handling practices and personal hygiene, food adulteration and food safety issues during Christmas.

Madam Atupra urged consumers to always check pre-packaged products whether it had expiry/best before dates, “defaced” labels, English labelling, FDA registration numbers, packages sealed and intact with no pests infestation or bloated cans.

“Watch out and be vigilant when you hear “Donkomi, Donkomi”. When you hear this, remember to pay attention to all the things we have educated you on,” she said.

Adding, “carefully watch out where you’re getting food from restaurants, chop bars, fast food joints or wherever have food hygiene permits. Street food vendors should have street food vending permits. This will tell you that they have fulfilled all food safety and hygiene requirements and the FDA has certified them to prepare and sell food to the public”.

The Head of Food Safety Coordination and Consumer Education Department at the FDA, Madam Jocelyn Egyakwa-Amusah, admonished the traders to desist from adulterating foods in the quest of maximising profits, saying such act posed danger to the health of the individuals, and anyone caught would be dealt with accordingly.

She encouraged food sellers, including butchers, tomatoes and vegetable sellers, among others, to observe the safer food precautions to ensure that they did not unnecessarily endangered the health of consumers.

Madam Egyakwa-Amusah also entreated consumers to buy vegetables that were sold on raised platforms such as tables, and meat that were sold in hygienic places and covered with a sieve.

“Make sure you eat cooked foods served hot and cold foods served cold and not at room temperature. Heat leftover food thoroughly before eating to ensure that any germs in them are killed and will not make you sick,” she added.

The Environmental Health Officer at the Kaneshie Market, Madam Poala Delle Sogbey, said the programme was vital, especially at the time of the year, and called on the traders to adhere to the safety precautions of the FDA and ensure the market was always clean to prevent food borne diseases.

BY VIVIAN ARTHUR

Show More
Back to top button