FDA raises alarm over unapproved food and drug products
FDA urges consumers and traders to buy only from verified sources as unapproved products continue to enter the market through informal channels.
The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) in the Upper East Region has cautioned consumers and traders against purchasing food products and medicines from unknown or unverified sources, warning that such products could pose serious health risks and complicate efforts to trace suppliers when safety concerns arise.
Speaking on The Big Mike Breakfast Show on Tuesday, June 16, FDA Regulatory Officers Ahmed Fadur-Rahman and Ruth Abugre highlighted the persistent challenge of unapproved products entering the Upper East Region through unauthorized channels and informal trading networks.
Fadur-Rahman advised consumers to be vigilant when purchasing food and pharmaceutical products, noting that one of the simplest ways to identify FDA-approved products is by checking for a valid FDA registration number and ensuring that product labels contain information in English.
“If we look at a product and there is no English on the label, then we know it has not come through our outfit because products registered by the FDA must meet our labelling requirements,” he explained.
He further urged consumers to avoid purchasing dented, swollen, or damaged canned products, stressing that such defects may indicate contamination or spoilage.
“If the product is bloated, there is a chance that microorganisms are active inside and the quality has been compromised. We advise people not to buy such products,” he cautioned.
Adding her voice to the discussion, Abugre emphasized the importance of traceability in ensuring product safety and urged both traders and consumers to source products only from known and reputable suppliers.
“Let’s all try to buy our products from known sources. It is very important for traceability,” she said.»
According to her, traders should maintain records of their suppliers and avoid purchasing products from unknown individuals whose identities and contact information cannot be verified.
“Don’t just sit at your shop and wait for somebody to come and dump a product on you, then when we come around, you say, ‘I don’t know where it came from; somebody just brought it,’” she cautioned.
Abugre explained that proper documentation of suppliers enables the FDA to effectively investigate complaints, trace the origin of unsafe products, and facilitate timely product recalls when necessary.
The FDA officials also called on the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious or unregistered products to the Authority, stressing that consumer cooperation is essential to safeguarding public health and promoting safer food and drug systems across the country.
Mike 105.3FM I Navrongo | Elizabeth Apusaama
