As Christmas approaches, the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) in the Western Region is cautioning consumers to be wary of the kind of food items they buy from the market during the festive season.
This is because some retailers and importers sell unwholesome products to unsuspecting consumers during such festive seasons, which can harm them.
The Public Relations Officer of the FDA, Solomon Kwabena Bonney, outlined some things to look out for before buying.
The Public Health Act, 851, Article 97(1), forbids a person from manufacturing, food or import, export, distribute, supply ,sell or expose food for sale unless the authority has registered such food.
He therefore advised the public to always pay attention to food items, particularly the pre-packaged ones, on sale in the open market.
“Check for date marking, expiry dates, and batch numbers on products before purchasing. Also, look out for bloated or dented canned products on shelves at supermarkets, and make sure the product language is written in English,” he indicated.
Regulatory Officer of the FDA in the region, Edmund Kwabena Amoakwah, disclosed that the Authority offers education to retailers and distributors to refrain from selling unwholesome products to the public.
He said the authority would crack the whip on offenders of the law, further urging consumers to report shops that offer unwholesome products for sale.
He said, ” FDA does not intimidate our customers, but they offer education on proper ways of handling or keeping products.
–FDA
