THE sixth National Food Safety Week has been held in Tamale, with a call on the public to be vigilant and monitor the conditions under which food is prepared to ensure their safety at all times.
According to the Northern Regional Zonal Officer of the Food and Drugs Board (FDB), Mr Solomon Agampim, “much interest should also be shown in the conditions under which food is produced, processed and marketed”.
He said reported cases of food-borne diseases in the country for 2007 stood at 297,104 and, therefore, called for an effective collaboration between the FDB and other stakeholders to address the situation.
The celebration, which was observed on the theme: “Clean Markets, Safe Food, a Healthy People”, was aimed at sensitising the public to the increasing health and socio-economic importance of food safety.
Mr Agampim said his outfit had, in partnership with the Ghana Tourists Board, already inspected most food joints in the region and also organised workshops on food handling and hygienic practices to that effect.
He criticised the practice by which some food processors used obsolete machines and cast iron machines in blending food, instead of the recommended stainless steel equipment, as an example.
The officer further expressed concern over the practice by some butchers of carrying meat on their bare backs, on bicycles, motorbikes and in open vehicles, without covering it with any protective materials to sell to unsuspecting consumers.
According to Mr Agampim, regulatory measures could not be enforced on such recalcitrant dealers without the full co-operation of the public.
He, therefore, entreated the people not to hesitate in reporting such unhygienic practices to his outfit for the necessary action to be taken.
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