The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has advised the public to take a keen interest in food items they buy at the marketplaces, eateries, among others, to consume.

According to the Volta Regional Director of the FDA, Gorden Akurugu, there is a high risk of food contamination along the value chain, due to handling, transportation, and storage.

He was speaking to the media during a market sensitisation exercise to commemorate World Food Day, themed “Food Safety: Science in Action”.

He advised the citizenry to be vigilant when purchasing food on the market and look out for possible contamination signs during their shopping sprees.

Mr Akurugu warned against settling for cheap products and those not displayed in hygienic conditions, showing signs of false ripping, possibly as a result of the use of chemicals, among others.

“Do not go in for 'buy one, get one free' products, false ripping, and those that are on the floor. They may be contaminated. Do not buy rotten food items”, he warned.

Mr Akurugu added that in recent times, some food items have been identified to be contaminated with high contents of lead and mercury, hence the need for intense advocacy of food safety.

He entreated the academia to continue to conduct research in helping the regulators to combat food contamination and ensure the markets are purged of unwholesome foods.

“It is a collective responsibility of every citizen in Ghana that everybody eats safe food”, he said, calling on the media to lead the advocacy.

The Volta Regional Environmental Officer, Rev Richard Mawutor Buama, said his outfit remains vigilant on the markets and ensures all safety practices are adhered to in food preparation and sales.

He said, “We have market sanitation officers stationed in the market who go round to educate, arrest and prosecute traders who fail to abide by the safety regulations.”

Rev Buama added that “we educate people not to buy from those who display their products on the floors and advise the traders to raise platforms for their products.”

The Ho Market Queen, Rejoice Norvixoxo, lauded the FDA on the sensitisation efforts, adding that authorities are making efforts to prevent traders from contaminating their products.

She said they had partnered with the Environmental Sanitation Unit to arrest and penalise traders who would go against the order not to display their products on the floor.

She raised concerns about the contaminated sachet water products sold on the market, which had led to people contracting “bilharzia and typhoid fever” after consuming them.