FDA Destroys Expired, Damaged Products in Ashanti Region

The Ashanti Regional Branch of the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), has destroyed expired items worth thousands of cedis.

The items include damaged products, which were either withdrawn from the market by the FDA or submitted by the various companies involved.

According to the Head of the Ashanti Regional branch of FDA,  Nora Teye Larbi, the affected products were collected within the last quarter of the year.

She said “some of the products are damaged. The product might not have expired, but the can is dented, the packaging is broken, it is torn apart and this does not make the product safe. Just yesterday [Thursday], we did some destruction for Komfo Anokye. What we have picked up are items that are expired from regional stores…It is a daily activity that we do. “

She further advised the public to crosscheck the state of items before purchase.

“We would like to encourage every individual. Do a little bit of due diligence when you are purchasing a product. Check the expiry date. If you cannot identify it yourself, ask someone to identify it for you. If you cannot read, ask the person to read same to you. If you find a dented product do not buy.”

FDA intensifies food safety campaign ahead of Christmas

This development comes on the back of assurances by the FDA spelling out measures being put in place to prevent expired goods from getting onto the market ahead of the Christmas festivities.

Fears over the safety of food products on the Ghanaian market have grown in recent weeks after a string of seizure of unwholesome goods by the FDA.

FDA impounds 2,800 cartons of ‘suspicious’ chicken

The FDA impounded a container loaded with about 2,800 cartons of chicken at a private warehouse over suspicions that they were unwholesome.

This followed an earlier destruction of some 4,500 cartons of unwholesome canned fish that were said to be on transit to Togo, but had been diverted onto the Ghanaian market.

However speaking to Citi News the Chief Executive Officer of the Authority, Delese Darko, said her outfit had intensified their checks at the markets and ports, to ensure that expired goods are prevented from flooding the Ghanaian market ahead of the holidays.