The Upper East Regional Director of the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has called on the public to look out for expiry dates of products when they shop for Christmas.

According to Sebastian Mawuli Hotor, shop owners whose products are nearing expiration reduce their prices and sell.

“The danger is that if you buy too much for your stock, you will end up with products expiring in your home,” he said in an interview with GNA.

He said with such expired products, the tendency among some people to consume those expired products is high.

Mr Hotor added that the cost of the products usually make it difficult for people to discard them.

He noted that it was not illegal for anybody to sell products nearing expiration dates at cheaper prices.

“It is only illegal for them to sell expired products. It rests on us the consumers to watch out and buy little quantities that can be consumed before the expiry date approaches."

“There is nothing like grace period after expiry. Once it is expired, it is expired for good. So let’s be vigilant. If the product is rusted or dented it is not safe, it is contaminated. We need to safeguard our own health,” he emphasized.

The Director said officials of the FDA in the Region had been active since the beginning of the year until the Covid-19 pandemic set in, which compelled them to reduce the number of officials on the field.

Mr Hotor described the year as good despite the challenges, saying “now we are doing full operations with a full staff and we are back on the market."

"On a daily basis we do market surveillance, looking out for expired, unregistered and unwholesome products to get them off the market.”

He said officials of the FDA also embarked on intensive education in the markets.

“...because we feel that is even more important. When the consumer and the distributors are aware of the dangers of displaying or putting on the market unwholesome products, they would appreciate it.

“Basically, our market surveillance activity for this year’s Christmas is packed with public education, and so we spend more time in the shops and interact more with consumers,” the Director added.