FDA appeals for public to tackle expired products

The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has appealed for strong support to curb the rise in trade of the distribution of expired products, to protect public health and safety.

Mr. Vigil Edward Prah-Ashun, the Ashanti Regional Head of the Authority, said people should not hesitate to provide information about retailers and manufacturers engaged in the illegality.

He described as deeply troubling the situation where expiry dates were rubbed off products, whose life span were almost due and said all would have to be vigilant to stop the crude deception and breach of the Public Health Act.

Speaking to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Kumasi, Mr. Prah-Eshun, said the devastating health implications including food poising and cancers must not be lost on anyone and that was why everybody was needed to act together to ensure that the right things were done.

He expressed the determination of the FDA to deal with the problem head-on and warned those indulging in the unlawful act to reform in their own interest.

The Authority would not go to sleep to allow them to have a field day and gamble with the health and safety of consumers, he added.

Convicted offenders would be sentenced to court fines or spend between four and 15 years in jail.

Mr. Prah-Ashun spoke of step up market surveillance to monitor product quality, identify the substandard ones and get them off the shelves and warehouses.