The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has warned the public against accepting, consuming, selling or distributing food and other regulated products recovered from floodwaters following the recent floods in parts of the Greater Accra Region.
In a food safety alert issued on Thursday, July 2, the Authority said it had observed some unidentified individuals retrieving food products from floodwaters and other affected sites after the June 29 floods.
According to the FDA, some of the individuals have also been seen on social media claiming they intend to distribute the recovered items to unsuspecting members of the public, including students.
The Authority cautioned that it could not guarantee the safety or quality of such products, warning that they may have been contaminated by floodwaters and mishandling, posing a serious risk to public health.
“The FDA cannot vouch for the safety or quality of these products, as they may have been contaminated by floodwaters and mishandling, which could pose a serious risk to public health,” the statement said.
“Members of the public are therefore strongly advised not to accept, consume, sell, offer for sale, or distribute any food or other regulated products recovered from floodwaters. Floodwaters often carry sewage, chemicals, other waste, and harmful microorganisms that can contaminate food, drinking water, food preparation surfaces, and food storage facilities etc. The floods have therefore increased the risk of food and water contamination, creating conditions that can lead to foodborne illnesses and outbreaks of cholera, typhoid fever, dysentery etc. The FDA strongly advises the public to be wary when purchasing food products,” the statement added.
The FDA urged the public to discard any food that has come into contact with floodwater and to drink only safe water, advising that water of uncertain quality should be boiled for at least five minutes before use.
It also encouraged frequent handwashing with soap and safe water before preparing food, before eating and after handling flood-contaminated materials, while advising households to thoroughly clean and disinfect food preparation surfaces, utensils, refrigerators and storage areas exposed to floodwater.
The Authority further advised the public to keep raw and cooked foods separate to prevent cross-contamination and urged consumers to exercise caution when purchasing food products.
The FDA called on the public to report any suspected sale or distribution of flood-damaged or unsafe food products to its nearest office or through its official social media platforms.
“Report any suspected sale or distribution of flood-damaged or unsafe food products to the FDA. It said it is working closely with relevant agencies to monitor the safety of food supplies in affected communities and will take the necessary regulatory action to protect public health” The FDA advise