FDA educates market women on food and drugs safety

The Bono, Bono East and Ahafo Regional Office of the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has embarked on food and drugs safety education for market women at the Nana Bosoma Weekly Market (Wednesday market) in Sunyani.

The exercise was in the form of a dialogue with food handlers, sellers and buyers about the hygienically proper ways to preserve food items from contamination and other infections.

It was also on how to store foodstuffs and their prevention from exposure to sunlight because “the sun contains harmful rays that could denature food nutrients”.

In an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) on Wednesday in Sunyani, Ms. Akua Amponsaa Owusu, the acting Regional Head of the FDA said the exercise, a monthly activity commenced in January this year.

She said other aspects of the periodic education was basic personal hygiene rules for food handlers, effects of skin bleaching, food safety and the need for them to desist from indulging in self-medication.

Ms. Owusu advised retailers of fruits, vegetables, canned foods and other foodstuffs to refrain from displaying the items on the ground because their exposure could be contaminated by dirt and germs, saying, that would facilitate spoilage and, thus, harmful to human life.

She reminded buyers of the need to check that labels were clearly written in English and other easily understandable languages on especially canned and bottled products before purchasing.

Ms. Owusu announced that the exercise would be extended to Senior High Schools, Churches, Mosques and other organised fora in the Districts and Municipalities between now and December this year.

She expressed optimism that a higher level of behavioural change for quality health and safety would be achieved.

Some of the market women who spoke to the GNA described the exercise as “very significant to make a positive change in their business activities and personal lives”.

A cabbage seller, Mad. Augustina Benewaa expressed joy that it had really made a great impact because “it has helped me and other traders to understand more about appropriate business practices to ensure the safety of consumers”.