FDA Will Not Compromise On Food Safety

As Ghana joins the rest of the world to commemorate this year’s World Food Day, the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has reiterated its unflinching support to ensure that only quality and safe food is made available to Ghanaians for consumption.

According to the Head of Food Industrial Support Services Department of the FDA, Mr. Ebenezer Kofi Essel, the authority is working with other stakeholders to ensure food security.

In an interview with the PUBLISHER, Mr. Essel hinted that a National Food Safety Policy is in the offing and would soon be rolled out.

The policy according to him, will help address the challenges facing food supply in the country.

Some of the challenges the food supply chain is facing in Ghana include the wrong application of agro-chemicals on farms.

Farmers who fail to properly apply agro-chemicals will end up sending poisonous food stuff to the market while animal rearers who do not correctly administer veterinary medication, can leave animal food unwholesome for consumption.

“The animals may carry overdosed anti-biotic in their bodies that could lead to antibiotic abuse in humans who consume the animal produce… this has resulted in human responses as far as bacterial infections are concerned; to the extent where normal anti-biotics administered to humans no longer work on bacterial infections.” the FDA official explained.

It for this reason and more that a food safety policy will be enforced.

The policy will clearly define the food supply chain and what each stakeholder is expected to do.

“There would also be a monitoring mechanism to ensure that each member of the supply chain plays his or her role very well so that the food that the consumer takes in, will be safe food that will not only be plentiful and available but safe.”

For the FDA, having enough food available all year round and at affordable prices yet not safe and not nutritious, is as good as not having food at all.

Processed Foods

On processed foods, the FDA said it will continue to monitor imports, do intensive market surveillance and embark on extensive public education to ensure our markets are free of harmful products.

 “As regulators it is our responsibility to check that the food we eat are wholesome but we are challenged in some areas because it is not all products that we can check,” the FDA official said.

The FDA therefore encouraged consumers to alert them when they spot a product that raises a brow.

By: Grace Ablewor Sogbey