The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has intensified calls for consumers to read labels on products they purchase before use.

Head of Communication and Public Education at the FDA, James Lartey said the labels normally contain detailed information about the product and reading them will not only direct the consumer on the use of it but could also serve as a prompter in case the product is being misused.

“When you purchase a product, it is very important for you to read the instruction on the product. If the product says it should be used for the killing of insects in respect of processed foods and others, it is very important that we follow those instructions,” he said.

James Lartey

Mr Lartey’s comments come in the wake of the tragic death of some three children at Abavanah, a suburb of Accra.

Their parents had sprayed an agro-chemical to check crawling insects in their home on the evening of Friday, April 20, 2018.

However, by midday the next day, the nine-month-old twin girls and their two-year-old brother died from convulsion after they were rushed to the 37 Military Hospital.

All children including their parents had inhaled the deadly substance called organophosphate, found in a product called Topstoxin a family friend had recommended as being able to deal with the insects.

Although both parents survived, the children could not even after they were given oxygen to aid their breathing.

The unfortunate incident, Mr Lartey believes could have been avoided if the parents had read the label on the product before using it in their home.

He said people must know what they are buying and the purpose for which they were made.

“When you look at the product very well, the inscription on the products indicates that it is supposed to be used to deal with insects in connection with feed, processed foods and drinks.

“The active ingredient of the product is aluminum phosphide which contains a chemical called phosphine which is very toxic and that seemed to be what caused the deaths,” he added.

However, since agro-chemicals do not fall within the jurisdiction of the FDA, Mr Lartey said all the Authority can do is to get in touch with the police to arrest the vendors.

The FDA, he noted will continue to educate the public on the need to adhere to basic safety measures to avert incidencts of such nature.