Eastern Regional FDA call on consumers to be careful of numerous promotional sales during Christmas .

The Eastern Regional office of the Food and Drugs Authority has cautioned consumers to be mindful of numerous promotional sales that traders use to attracts consumers during the Christmas season to avoid consuming unwholesome, unregistered and expired products.

The authority said most of the “reduce to clear promotions” run by some retailers and wholesalers on the market comes with cheap or low prices to attract consumers to patronise such goods which may be near expiry or unwholesome goods to dispose of them from their stock.

Speaking during public education program organised by the FDA at the Maame Krobo and Donkokrom in the Affram Plains and NKawkaw, the Eastern Regional head, Mr Samuel Kwakye sensitised the public to avoid buying products that are not registered with the authority because the safety of such products cannot be guaranteed and also cautioned them to vigilant by verifying and examining the product for valid batch details before purchasing.

He said being careful of what you buy on the market helps one to avoid consuming products that are not safe or the right quality and assured that, the authority will continue to exercise its mandate by enforcing the law to ensure the safety of all regulated product to promote public health.
Mr Kwakye said whiles FDA is doing their part as a regulator, the public should also collaborate with the authority by reporting any food safety complaint on the FDA’s website, walk into any FDA offices or make a call to lodge their complaints.
He said FDA always take consumer complaint seriously and also ensures complainant confidentiality.

Mr. Peter Alordji, a Senior Regulatory Officer in charge of the Industrial Support Services Units, ISSU, also called on bakers who transport baked bread in car boots without proper packaging to desist from doing that.

According to him, bread is ready to be eaten product that are of higher risk and transporting them in car boots without covering them exposes the product to chemical, physical and microbial contamination.

Also, the public sensitization took officers to various market and transport terminals in the Kwahu Afram Plains North and South district respectively to educate traders and consumers on food safety and good hygienic practices.

Ms. Juliet Adjeiwa, Regulatory Officer, educated the public on adverse drug reactions of their medications and called on them to report any side effects to the authority. She said reporting side effects to the authority helps detect counterfeit and substandard medicines and other products on the market.

According to her, the report of ADR can also lead to the product dosage review or total recall of the product from the market.

Fliers on food safety cautions, tobacco prevention measure and the medicine safety mobile app were also distributed during the sensitization to create more awareness.

Consumers and traders were grateful to the authority for embarking on such educative program that has awaken them on the need to be vigilant whenever they visit the market to buy or sell.

Meanwhile, such programs and activities are being organized in other districts ahead of the Christmas celebrations.

 

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