Kumasi: The Ashanti Regional Office of the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has intensified its outreach programmes to educate the public, particularly market women, on food safety and the discouragement of additive use in food preservation. This initiative is part of activities marking World Food Safety Day.
According to Ghana News Agency, Mr. John Laryea Odai-Tettey, Ashanti Regional Head of the FDA, spearheaded the outreach programmes, emphasizing the FDA's commitment to comprehensive food safety. He highlighted the importance of educating market women on protecting food from contaminants and warned against the use of additives in palm oil and other foodstuffs. Odai-Tettey stressed hygienic food handling from production to market display, urging against placing food on the bare floor and advocating for proper covering of food items.
Mr. Odai-Tettey expressed concern over the illegal and harmful practice of using formalin to preserve fish and meat, warning that offenders would face severe sanctions. He encouraged the public to report unhygienic or suspected contaminated food to environmental officers and the FDA.
Mr. David Oppong Darko, Regional Environmental Health Officer of the FDA, reiterated the series of activities conducted as part of the World Food Safety celebration, including educational sessions with Santasi Market Women. He emphasized the FDA's commitment to achieving comprehensive food safety, addressing the transportation, production, and market display of food items. Darko warned against harmful preservatives, underscoring that using formalin is a crime, and urged consumers to be vigilant about the environment when purchasing food.
