As people go on shopping sprees ahead of the Yuletide, there are so many inferior and fake products on the market, while some are cheaper and substandard, others may pose a threat to consumers.
Meanwhile, during the festive seasons, importers, retailers and manufacturers often try to boost their market and therefore release new products on the market which are cheaper than that of their competitors, especially those that are close to expiry.
However, one cannot determine whether those products are registered or wholesome and certified by either the Food and Drugs Authority and the Ghana Standard Authority to be safe for consumption or for use.
Against this backdrop, the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) and the Ghana Standard Authority (GSA) have cautioned the public on the possibility of taking home harmful items which have the tendency to cause harm.
Speaking on Spice Fm’s Adzekye Mu Nsem morning show, Mr Francis Odum Edem, a Senior Regulatory Officer at the Western Regional Office of the FDA argued that there are some identifications consumers can visibly see to identify as a good or safe products.
However, there are some that can only be identified by the regulators, hence the need to be cautious of the products they buy on the market.
He enlightened that to check for expiry dates on products consumers should note imprints such as “Exp, Expiry, Best Before/BB, Best by or Use by” followed by the date and cautioned that no product should be consumed when the expiry date was due under the pretext that there is a “grace period” within which the product can be used after expiry.
They should also ensure that the imprints are written in English that can be read and understood to know what the product is about and should send a copy of the product to the FDA or GSA for checks to be done on them if written language is in any other language.
Mr Edem further implored consumers to also look out for the Ghana Standard Authority embossment or mark on the products and the Food and Drugs Authority number on them if they are locally manufactured products before buying.
He cautioned that tin products that are leaking should be avoided as well as products that are bloated whether paper or tin since some microbial activities take place making it poisonous and unsafe for consumption.
He also cautioned against the use of products that are crashed in since the liners in the metal container are destroyed making the contents toxic for consumption, while meats and poultry products should be kept frozen as food safety measures are observed.
For his part, Mr John Opoku Danquah, Western Regional Manager of the GSA pointed out that the mandate of the Authority was to ensure that products, goods and services on the market whether for local consumption or export meet the required standards, and are of good quality, safe and consumable.
He said though the regulators are doing their best to ensure safety for consumers there was the need for consumers to also take personal responsibility to make sure that what they buy has date of manufacture and expiry before buying them to prevent any damage caused to the body or at home.
He said tin products or sensitive products like meat products and poultry among others should not be consumed when the expiry date is about two (2) to three (3) months or less.
Story: Seth Ameyaw Danquah
