The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has confiscated a large quantity of flood-damaged bottled water and soft drinks that were allegedly being washed, cleaned and repackaged for sale to unsuspecting consumers in Bubiashie, Accra.
According to the FDA, the products had been affected by floodwater before being moved from a flooded business location in Alajo to a residence in Bubiashie, where they were reportedly being prepared for resale. The authority said its investigation uncovered approximately one truckload of bottled water and soft drinks at the residence, with mud covering both the bottles and their packaging.
The affected products were subsequently seized for safe disposal as part of measures to prevent them from returning to the market.
The FDA said the Ghana Police Service at Kaneshie had also received a complaint about the matter. Police reportedly arrested the owner of the products before granting the individual bail while investigations continued. A similar quantity of the affected beverages was also seized by the police.
The development has raised serious food-safety concerns, particularly because floodwater can contain sewage, refuse and other contaminants capable of making food and beverages unsafe.
The FDA stressed that simply washing the outside of a bottle or package does not make a flood-affected product safe for consumption. According to the authority, floodwater can compromise bottle caps, seals and other forms of packaging, allowing contaminants to potentially affect the contents.
Consumers who unknowingly purchase and consume such products could face health risks, including exposure to water-borne diseases such as cholera, typhoid and dysentery, the FDA warned.
The authority has therefore advised consumers to carefully inspect beverages before purchasing them. Products showing mud stains, watermarks or other signs of exposure to floodwater should be avoided.
Consumers have also been encouraged to pay attention to bottles and packaging with stained, peeling or discoloured labels, as these could be signs that the products have been exposed to adverse conditions.
The FDA further cautioned members of the public to exercise extra care when purchasing food and beverages from unusual locations or from sellers offering large quantities without a clear and reliable source.
Food and beverage operators whose products have been affected by flooding have been directed not to wash, repackage, relabel or resell the affected products.
Instead, such products should be quarantined and the nearest FDA office notified so that the authority can assess the stock and supervise its safe disposal.
The FDA has warned that failure to comply with these requirements constitutes an offence and may attract sanctions under the law.
The authority said it would continue surveillance and enforcement activities in areas affected by flooding to protect consumers and prevent contaminated food and beverages from entering the market.
The incident in Bubiashie serves as a reminder for consumers to remain vigilant about the condition and source of food and drinks they purchase, particularly following flooding.
Members of the public who become aware of the sale of flood-damaged food or beverages are encouraged to report such cases to the appropriate authorities.
Source: Thepressradio.com
