FDA to certify palm oil dealers in VR

The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) is working towards certifying traders in palm oil in the Volta Region.

The certification is to help bring some regulation into the industry and ensure that the public consumed quality palm oil.

Mr Eugene Addo, the Regional Director of the Authority, announced this at a sensitisation programme for dealers in the industry at the Ho Central Market, on Tuesday.

He said the initiative followed a post market survey, which indicated that some traders in the Region were adulterating palm oil with the “Sudan iv dye”, a chemical described as “genotoxic” and carcinogenic”.

Mr Addo said out of 118 samples tested, 30 had traces of Sudan IV dye, an indication that there was adulteration of the product in the chain.

He described the percentage of adulteration as alarming and warned that after the sensitisation and certification, culprits would be dealt with severely.

Mr Addo said the Authority was compiling a database for traders in the industry, after which it would give tags for easy identification by the public as certified dealers.

Madam Theresa Mansah Dagbe, the Ho Market Queen, commended the FDA for the efforts at protecting consumers and urged it to visit the market regularly to help check substandard foods and drugs.

Some dealers in palm oil expressed concern about the adulteration of the product, saying that they were frustrated about their inability to detect fake products from suppliers.