The Food and Drugs Board (FDB), with the assistance of the Ghana Police has arrested a distributor, one Diana Antobam, a resident of Dansoman and her accomplice, Kwame Owusu of Dome Pillar 2, for changing the Expiry Dates on a number of food products found in their warehouse located at Tudu, near the Stanchart Bank.

According to a press signed by Dr. Stephen K. Opuni, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the (FDB), the expired products (some had expired since 20th July 2010), which have been given fake new expiry dates include:

Kelloggs Bran Flakes, Kellogs Coco Pops, Kelloggs Raisin Wheat, Kelloggs Corn Flakes, Kelloggs Frosted Wheat, Kelloggs Just Right, Kelloggs Special and Kelloggs All Bran.

Also included are Elle & Vire Dairy Baby Foods, Heinz Tomato Ketchup, Ideal Tomato Ketchup, Legend Premium Lager Beer (500ml) and Countre Dairy (Full Cream Milk). The rest are Best In Orange Juice, Best In Mango Juice, Safa Guava Nectar, Twist Fruit Nectar (Banana, Mango and Pineapple), Cheers Apple Flavoured Carbonated Drink, Don Simon Fruit Drink and Yag Go Yoghurt.

Accordimg to the release, the consumption of Expired Food Products pose serious public health risk, since their safety cannot be guaranteed. It said such expired products could cause illnesses and diseases from microbiological and chemical poisoning, which may lead to chronic conditions and possibly death.

“The distribution, display and sale of unwholesome food products with altered expiry dates contravene Sections 1 (b) and 3 of the Food and Drugs Law (PNDC Law 3045B), which state

“any person who sells or offers for sale any food that is unwholesome or unfit for human consumption commits an offence” (Section 1 {b})

“any person who labels, packages, sells or advertises any food in a manner that is false, misleading or deceptive as regards its character, nature, value, substance, quality, composition, merit or safety commits an offence” (Section 3), the release underscored.

It disclosed that a syndicate of unscrupulous traders operating at Tudu and a shopping area near the CMB Lorry Terminal in Accra, popularly known as Donkomi Area, clean the expiry dates on expired food products and assign fake and extended new expiry dates.

The CEO said the arrested persons, Diana Antobam and Kwame Owusu were, meanwhile, helping the Police in their investigations.

He urged that any person who might have purchased any of the above mentioned products from any trader in the Donkomi Area or Tudu is advised to contact the Food and Drugs Board on any of the following telephone numbers: 0244-337235, 0244-337243 and 0244-337251 It has also been established that such products said the release, were usually sold by hawkers, and consumers are therefore cautioned against buying from such hawkers.

The general public, the CEO said, is advised to check carefully on the date markings on pre-packaged food items before they buy, adding when in doubt of the date markings on any pre-packaged food products, please do not buy. The public, should also endeavour to report to the Food and Drugs Board any person or persons involved in any such operations that pose risk to public health and safety through any of the numbers stated above.

According to him, the Food and Drugs Board (FDB) wishes to assure the general public of its resolve to protect public health and safety at all times.