The regulator for safe and quality food and drink products as well as pharmaceuticals and other manufacturing products in this country, the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has put out a caution statement this week that there are unregistered water products in the market. 

By implication, consumers are by that being warned about the kind of water they buy to consume.

Water, it is said, is life. It is something one cannot live without and not surprising, therefore, the increasing number of water producing companies on our market. It is also not surprising that it has become an avenue to make money because, unlike other consumer products, there is always a ready market for drinking water.

Yes, competition is good in a liberal economy. It gives manufacturers the push to constantly review and improve the quality of their products and for the consumer, a likelihood of variety, constant availability and competitive pricing. 

Set standards

However, there is always the hidden danger of some producers who will not abide by the set standards.  They will only hide behind the good of others to flood the market and make their money for as long as they are also marketing the needed commodity, water.

With the vigilant eye of the FDA’s market inspection team, some unregistered water has recently been traced on the market hence a warning to consumers. One wonders how a manufacturer could push out unregistered products for sale without catching the eyes of the regulator.

In a media release issued by the Authority last week, three water brands of a company named Samdoe Enterprise, located in Community 18, Tema and on Spintex Road are unregistered. The three alleged unregistered water brands include Perfect Ice Drinking Water, Aqua Link Drinking Water and Leaders’ Drinking Water.

According to the release of July 12 2023, when the FDA’s Inspection Team visited the manufacturing site of Samdoe Enterprise, they witnessed quality and safety breaches. Such breaches included uncovered drains with algae and fungi growth, dirty filters and no pest control mechanisms in place.

Through the media release, therefore, the Authority is cautioning the public to desist from consuming the alleged unregistered water products. It asked those who already have them to dispose of them while retailers withdraw their stocks from the market.   

Public health and safety

In the interest of public health and safety, FDA has done the needful by shutting down the manufacturing site and warning consumers about the product. According to a source contacted, in due course when the necessary tests have been carried out to ascertain the wholesomeness or not of the products, FDA will decide on the next steps.

Once upon a time, one knew about the active involvement and supervision of the Department of Factories Inspectorate. They were quite visible in checking the activities of manufacturing setups and promoting health and safety, primarily for workers. No doubt, however, their job must have positively rubbed on the quality of products and hence consumer health and safety as well. 

Stories about suspected contaminated products especially on something as critical as water, saddens one’s heart. We all attest to the essential benefit of drinking water to every human being. Why would anyone want to cut corners to make money from producing drinking water and passing them out without registration and hence passing consumer health and safety checks?

Consumer checks

The story then is just another reminder for the consumer to do the needful before consuming any product from shop shelves. Ordinarily, one should inspect basic things like manufacturing and expiry dates as well as FDA certification when buying consumable products. Unfortunately, we sometimes fail to do that, taking for granted that all should be well. 

One sometimes assumes that once a product is beautifully displayed on a shop shelf it is good for consumption. The FDA alert in this water manufacturing issue is a typical case in hand. It is no doubt a lesson and a reminder, going forward; that there is always the need to stay alert and do one’s checks, no matter which shop one is buying from.

It is one’s primary duty as a consumer when shopping, to check on labels as well as other expected details when buying. It is only when one has satisfied one’s self with the wholesomeness of a product on a shop shelf that one should part with money. The fact that the product is on the shelf does not guarantee its wholesomeness.

The saying that all that glitters is not gold should be one’s guiding principle when out there to buy. The packaging might be attractive and the price very affordable but the quality could be something else.

Given the many unsolved illnesses around, perhaps we should all be circumspect with what we buy to consume and not always wait until the regulator comes in. The principle that one should say something when one sees something works very well here. 

A word to the wise, they say, is enough.