FDA cautions against patronising adulterated foods

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Amidst a recent spike in food adulteration by some persons, the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has warned the general public about the foods they should and shouldn’t consume.

This comes after Channel One News spoke with a few vendors at the Agbobloshie market, which resulted in startling revelations regarding a number of additives people use to flavor meals and oils they sell.

For example, the use of Sudan IV dye may make a staple like palm oil appear more crimson than typical.

This trend of adulteration has even extended to powdered pepper, wherein other ingredients are blended in to boost its color or amount.

Rakiatu Mohammed, a trader who sells powdered pepper, confirmed the issue to Channel One News, citing several methods people employ to adulterate powdered pepper.

“We have a lot on our market here. Some use the pepper seeds and colour to mix the powder to make it reddish. Others grind pepper with pear leaves. Some traders at the Nima Market also add gari to the pepper. Just to increase the quantity because pepper is now expensive. The original pepper is neither very red nor white. It should be brownish,” she said.

Roderick Daddey-Adjei, the Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), urged Ghanaians to be cautious about the food they consume, as food safety is everybody’s business.

“You go into the Public Health Act 851, and there is a section that deals with food adulteration and food fraud. I think you even heard about plastic rice. There are myths that do come up. Ghanaians need to start taking control of things for themselves and stop blaming people.”

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