The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has affirmed that the alleged 22,000 bags of expired and repackaged rice distributed to Senior High Schools across the country in February this year were wholesome.
North Tongu Member of Parliament (MP), Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, had claimed that the National Food Buffer Stock Company (NAFCO) conspired with Lamens Investments Africa Limited to distribute expired rice, which had originally expired in December 2023.
He further alleged that the rice was repackaged in locally made sacks with misleading labels such as “ECOWAS” and “Made in Ghana rice” but lacked an expiry date.
The Ministry of Education confirmed on Thursday, November 14, 2024, that an investigation had been launched into the matter with its spokesperson, Kwasi Kwarteng clarifying that NAFCO had engaged Lamens Ventures to procure the rice for distribution. While the rice was initially imported with an expiry date of December 2023, a portion remained unsupplied by the end of the year.
He indicated that on the advice of the FDA, Lamens Ventures had the rice re-tested in India to determine whether its shelf life could be extended. Following re-evaluation, he said the FDA confirmed that the rice was still safe for consumption and granted an extension of the “Best Before” date to April 30, 2024.
Kwarteng emphasised that the rice distributed to schools in February 2024 was certified as wholesome by the FDA. Additionally, Lamens Ventures had formally requested approval from the FDA to re-bag the remaining stock, reflecting the updated shelf life, which was approved.
In an interview with Joy FM’s Midday News on Thursday, November 21, Joseph Yaw-Bernie Bennie, Director of Legal and Corporate Affairs, FDA, confirmed that the rice was wholesome, stressing that the Authority prioritised the health and safety of all and sundry and would not jeopardise it.
He indicated that the FDA intervened in a case involving unlicensed rice repackaging after receiving a complaint from the police.
Bennie said the Authority collaborated with the police to halt the unauthorised activity, after which the company involved was sanctioned for three key violations: operating a facility unlicensed for rice repackaging, conducting repackaging activities without FDA approval, and undertaking the process without supervision.
He further explained that the Authority identified that the “best before” date on the rice had expired, stating that the product was recommended for disposal, adding that however, following international and local laboratory tests conducted by the FDA, the Centre for Scientific Research (CSIR), and a facility in India, it was determined that the rice met quality standards.
Bennie said the “best before” date was then extended to April 2024, instead of December 2023 as initially requested by the producer.
“When the producer applied for the censor, which is internationally accepted, we looked at the quality of the product. Those three laboratory tests – in India, Centre for Scientific Research (CSIR), and Food Research and FDA – did a confirmatory test which tells us that the product can be used, and based on that, the best before date was extended to April and not December as requested,” he said.
Adding that, “The FDA, as a regulatory institution, will not for any reason jeopardise the health and safety of Ghanaians, especially children and students. The FDA will shy away from handling unsafe products the way it should be handled.”
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