Mr. Nkum displaying samples of the unwholesome items during the media briefing
THE FOODS and Drugs Board (FDB) has destroyed unwholesome items seized from 233 shops in nine districts of the Brong Ahafo region.
The items with a street value of GH8,775.30 were seized after a post market surveillance exercise conducted by the board in the Sunyani municipality and the Asunafo North, Berekum, Sene, Tano North, Atebubu-Amanten, Pru, Jaman South and Sunyani West districts during the first quarter of the year.
They included canned foods and drinks, orthodox and herbal medicines, aphrodisiacs and household chemicals. Most of them had expired while others were unregistered, wrongly labeled, bloated, dented and rusted.
Briefing journalists in Sunyani prior to their safe disposal at the city’s landfill site Wednesday, FDB Brong Ahafo Regional Officer, Matthew Gyang Nkum, cautioned the public to be wary of items they purchase especially herbal medicines since most of them have not been board certified.
“Consumers should also be vigilant when purchasing products by assessing labels, expiring dates, the nature of products and packaging integrity.”
He said the seized items pose a health risk to consumers therefore the board organized the exercise to ensure they were safely disposed off.
He explained that during post market surveillance activities, FDB officials inspect pharmacies and chemical shops, herbal, cosmetics and provision shops to ascertain the wholesomeness, safety and quality of products offered for sale.
Mr. Nkum used the occasion to advise wholesale and retail operators to stock quality and safe products and implement good storage/warehouse practices.
“Display of products in insanitary and warm conditions as well as under direct sunlight contributes to product deterioration even within the shelf life,” he mentioned.
He commended the police for supporting the board to execute its mandate during the exercise whilst assuring the public that the FDB is committed to its mandate of ensuring consumer safety.
The FDB is the national regulatory body under the Ministry of Health with the responsibility of implementing Food and Drugs Law 1992, (PNDCL 305B) to regulate the manufacture, importation, exportation, distribution, use and advertisements of food, drugs, cosmetics, medical devices and household chemicals/products.
FROM Fred Tettey Alarti-Amoako, Sunyani
