W/R FDB destroys expired, fake food and drug items

The Western Regional Office of the Food and Drugs Board (FDB) has destroyed expired, fake and unwholesome food and drug products estimated at GH¢10,673 at Sofokrom, near Takoradi.

The products including beverages, herbal medicine and imported aphrodisiacs, were seized during the board's Post Market Surveillance in 376 shops in 112 communities between February and March this year, Mr. Albert Ankomah, a Regulatory Officer of the FDB, told the media during the exercise.

The communities include Elubo, Aiyinase, Half Assini, Tarkwa, Tamso, Nsuaem, Enchi, Dadieso, Asankrangwa, Sefwi Wiawso, Sefwi Bekwai and Bibiani.

Mr. Ankomah said it is against the country's Food and Drugs Law to display and sell expired food and drug products.

He therefore urged retailers to comply with the law and take expired products off the shelf and hand them over to the FDB for inspection and destruction.

Mr. Ankomah said retailers would, however, pay administrative charges towards the destruction of the products.

He said the Post Market Surveillance is to ensure that safe and wholesome food and drug products were sold to the public to protect the health of the people.

Mr. Ankomah asked the public to desist from buying rusty and bloated food and drug products because they could be expired, fake and unwholesome.**