[ 2016-04-28 ]

FDA to certify palm oil dealers in VR

The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) is working
towards certifying traders in palm oil in the
Volta Region.


The certification is to help bring some regulation
into the industry and ensure that the public
consumed quality palm oil.

Mr Eugene Addo, the Regional Director of the
Authority, announced this at a sensitisation
programme for dealers in the industry at the Ho
Central Market, on Tuesday.

He said the initiative followed a post market
survey, which indicated that some traders in the
Region were adulterating palm oil with the
“Sudan iv dye”, a chemical described as
“genotoxic” and carcinogenic”.

Mr Addo said out of 118 samples tested, 30 had
traces of Sudan IV dye, an indication that there
was adulteration of the product in the chain.

He described the percentage of adulteration as
alarming and warned that after the sensitisation
and certification, culprits would be dealt with
severely.

Mr Addo said the Authority was compiling a
database for traders in the industry, after which
it would give tags for easy identification by the
public as certified dealers.

Madam Theresa Mansah Dagbe, the Ho Market Queen,
commended the FDA for the efforts at protecting
consumers and urged it to visit the market
regularly to help check substandard foods and
drugs.

Some dealers in palm oil expressed concern about
the adulteration of the product, saying that they
were frustrated about their inability to detect
fake products from suppliers

Source - GNA

... go Back