The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has confirmed that the 22,000 bags of 50 kg Moshosho Rice imported from India at the time they tested was safe for consumption.

The Director of Legal and Corporate Affairs for the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), Joseph Yaw-Bernie noted that when the producer applied for the censure which is internationally accepted, "we looked at the quality of the product."

Read also: Expired rice scandal: We won’t jeopardize people’s health or safety for any reason – FDA

In an interview on Joy FM’s Middaynews on Thursday, November 21, he stated that rigorous tests were conducted by the FDA, the Centre for Scientific Research (CSIR), and an accredited laboratory in India that confirmed the rice to meet quality standards. 

Read Also: ‘Expired rice’: FDA fines Lamens Investments GH¢100k for regulatory violations

He added “So those three laboratory tests tell us that the product can still be used based on the qualities that have been tested in the three laboratories and based on that, the best-before date has been extended to April not to December as requested by the manufacturer … it was still safe. The issue at stake was the quality and the three laboratories confirmed the quality of the rice,” he stressed.

He explained that following the tests, the best-before date of the rice was extended to April 2024 although the manufacturer asked for an extension to December.

Read also: FDA explains extension of best-before date for ‘expired’ rice

He added, "We also required Lamens to provide further evidence from the manufacturer to justify any additional extensions.”

"They [Lamens] applied for an extension of the best-before date and we took them through the processes and once they qualified to have the date extended, we did that,” he said.

The FDA has assured that as a regulatory body, it remains committed to protecting Ghanaians' health and safety.

According to Mr Bennie, the authority will not jeopardise the health and safety of Ghanaians, especially children or students for any reason.

This follows allegations made by the Member of Parliament (MP) for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, who claimed that a total of 22,000 bags of expired and repackaged rice were distributed to various Senior High Schools across the country.

He alleged that the consignment was distributed through the Free Senior High School Secretariat in February this year.

Read also: 22,000 bags of expired rice allegedly distributed to SHSs across Ghana – Ablakwa

The North Tongu legislator, who also serves as Chair of the Assurances Committee in Parliament, said his investigation, launched after a tip-off, revealed that the act was deliberate, calling for the immediate arrest and prosecution of the directors of Lamens Investments Africa, the company accused of allegedly repackaging and distributing the expired rice.

Mr Bennie disclosed that the FDA intervened in the case after receiving a complaint from the police, adding that the Authority collaborated with law enforcement to halt the unauthorised activity.

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 said.

The FDA clarified that the GH¢100,000 fine imposed on Lamens Investments Africa Limited was for these multiple regulatory violations, and not the quality of the Moshosho Rice imported from India.