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The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has advised Ghanaians to prioritize their health and well-being when purchasing pre-packaged and street foods during the Easter season.
Madam Francisca Obeng, the Central Regional head of the FDA, stressed that consumers must make food safety a significant priority and avoid purchasing potentially harmful foods that could harm their health.
She also emphasized that festive seasons such as Easter usually see the influx of cheap food items, some of which are expired or unapproved for public consumption.
Madam Obeng explained that some vendors sell food items near their expiry date as part of a promotion, which could pose a risk to consumers’ health. She, therefore, urged the public to exercise vigilance and always check the expiry date before making any purchase.
Furthermore, she advised consumers to demand to see food permits when patronizing food service establishments such as restaurants to ensure that the food is safe.
Madam Obeng added that buyers should confirm that any street food vendor they are buying food from has a Street Food Vending Permit. This would help Ghanaians celebrate Easter safely, and prevent any health-related issues after the festivities. The FDA, she assured, is working tirelessly to remove all potentially harmful products from the market.
In an interview with the Ghana News Agency, Madam Obeng said, “As we celebrate Easter, I will urge everyone to be vigilant when purchasing pre-packaged food. Please do well to check the expiry date before you proceed to make a purchase.”
She further stressed, “Also, make sure that any food vendor you are buying food from also has the Street Food Vending Permit. This will help us celebrate Easter in a way that after the celebration, we would not have any issues with our health.”