The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has expressed its readiness to undergo audits by both local and international bodies to validate its actions concerning the alleged distribution of unwholesome rice to Senior High Schools (SHS).

The FDA has faced criticism for allegedly failing to conduct due diligence before extending the best-before date for over 22,000 bags of 50kg rice imported by Lamens Investments Africa Limited.

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Speaking at a news conference on Tuesday, the FDA’s Chief Executive Officer, Dr Delese Mimi Darko, said that all approvals granted were in strict adherence to regulatory standards and best practices.

“The FDA is open to audits by qualified local and international bodies to validate all its actions,” she stated.

Dr Darko explained that the FDA followed international best practices for food safety, including the management of use-by dates, expiry dates, and best-before-end dates.

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“The authority, like other authorities globally, may use accepted regulatory extensions of best before dates, following rigorous testing and compliance with storage requirements, and this is in line with international best practices.”

She emphasised the FDA’s commitment to transparency and safeguarding public health amid the ongoing scrutiny.

“We remain steadfast in our commitment to ensuring food safety and protecting public health," she affirmed.

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Addressing concerns about the rice in question, Dr Darko assured the public that comprehensive testing and verification processes were conducted before its release.

“The FDA also wishes to assure the public that it confronts the wholesomeness of the consignment of rice in question and gives assurance that with all the other certificates that were submitted from India, from PPRSD, from CSIR-FRI, and concluded that the rice was wholesome before it was released for distribution," she added