The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has confiscated large quantities of flood-damaged bottled water and soft drinks following illicit attempts by traders to wash, repackage, and resell the contaminated stock to unsuspecting consumers.
The seizure follows intelligence revealing that a distributor operating out of Alajo secretly relocated flood-compromised inventory to a private residence in Bubiashie. The authority discovered approximately one truckload of bottled water and soft drinks heavily caked in mud, undergoing cleaning for re-entry into the commercial market. A parallel investigation by the Ghana Police Service at Kaneshie led to the arrest of the shop owner and the recovery of an additional batch of affected goods.
Issuing a public notice signed by the Chief Executive Officer, the FDA warned that floodwaters carry hazardous contaminants, including raw sewage and refuse. The regulatory body cautioned that surface cleaning does not make compromised products safe for consumption.
“Washing the outside of a bottle or a shrink-wrapped pack does not render the contents safe, as caps, seals and packaging are easily compromised when products are submerged in floodwater,” the statement read. “Consuming such products poses a real risk of cholera, typhoid fever, dysentery and other water-borne diseases.”
The regulator emphasized that under the Public Health Act, 2012 (Act 851), distributing contaminated or unwholesome food remains a punishable criminal offence. Manufacturers, distributors, and retailers affected by recent flooding have been instructed to quarantine impacted stock immediately and notify the nearest FDA office for safe disposal rather than attempting to salvage the goods.
“Failure to do so constitutes an offence and will attract the full sanctions available under the law,” the authority warned.
Members of the public are urged to exercise vigilance and avoid purchasing beverages displaying mud stains, watermarks, or peeling labels. Consumers should buy strictly from licensed outlets and report any suspicious bulk sales or unusual distribution points to the FDA or local police.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana