The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has assured the public that it has instituted regulatory measures to ensure the safety of palm oil on the market as well as export consignments for consumption.
A statement signed by Mrs Delese A.A Darko, the Ag. Chief Executive Officer of the FDA said the attention of the Authority had been drawn to news making rounds on social media about the seizure of two brands of palm oil -- POLIFUDS and ZOMI -- in Switzerland purported to contain Sudan dyes.
The statement said the publication attributed its source to the Swiss Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office (FSVO) and warned against the use of the said palm oil brands.
The FDA said it has worked extensively on this subject in the past, in collaboration with other agencies including its European partners, to ensure the safety of palm oil used in Ghana and for export.
The statement said preliminary investigations conducted so far by the FDA about the publication indicated that the implicated brands were not registered with the FDA and there was no information regarding the country of origin.
"Market surveillance carried out so far by the FDA has also not established that the said brands are in circulation on the Ghanaian market.
"It must be noted that ZOMI is a generic name for a type of palm oil in many West African countries and its origin should not be necessarily associated with Ghana only.
"The export control measures include the sampling and testing of consignments for Sudan IV dyes among other parameters,” it said.
The statement said failed consignments were disposed of and that the FDA would continue to monitor the industry and trade practices to promote public health and safety.
"Meanwhile, the public is encouraged to alert the FDA on any issue regarding its mandate through any of the following contacts - Toll free: 0800151000 (Vodafone and Airtel), Hotlines: 0299802932, 0299802933, and Short code: 4015," it said.
Latest Stories
-
Photos of 2024 Aboakyer Festival
2 mins -
#JustTurned18: I now have an opportunity to use my thumb to bring someone into power – Excited prospective voters
31 mins -
OSP acted as a whistleblower transferring Cecilia Dapaah’s case to EOCO – Sammy Darko
35 mins -
IMF calls for tariff adjustment for energy sector cost recovery
57 mins -
Samson’s Take: Journalists, block the pretentious idiots
2 hours -
Real Madrid crowned LaLiga champions after Barcelona’s defeat at Girona
3 hours -
Daniel Otting Awuah elected SRC President of Ghana School of Law
4 hours -
Lawrence Ati-Zigi signs St. Gallen contract extension
4 hours -
We should be careful not to destroy our institutions without just cause – Serebour Quaicoe
4 hours -
Cecilia Dapaah’s case: EOCO hasn’t requested FBI report – Office of the Special Prosecutor
6 hours -
Andre Ayew scores 5th league goal as Le Havre beat Strasbourg
6 hours -
Ejisu by-election: NPP didn’t sanction money distribution to voters – Richard Ahiagbah
6 hours -
Ghana Health Service opens vacancies for 204 doctors, 25 dentists
7 hours -
Domestic tourism on the rebound with 1.4m visits to attraction sites in 2023 – GTA
7 hours -
Government working hard to complete Tema General Hospital project – Dr Okoe Boye
7 hours