Risk assessment of smoked food underway

The Food and Drugs Board has set up a special committee to conduct health risk assessment of local delicacies of smoked fish and meat products which have been banned from European Union countries.

The ban imposed on smoked foods follows the outbreak of both the Mad Cow and Foot and Mouth diseases, which affect livestock.

The Chief Executive of the Board, Mr. T.C. Corquaye who disclosed this explained that even though a kilo each of both smoked fish and meat products are now allowed to be imported to EU states, commercial quantities will not be permitted until the Board is able to build up a credible data base on the safety and nutritional status of the Ghanaian delicacy to convince EU enforcement agencies.

The European Union is demanding comprehensive information on phenol compounds or smoked food products and health risks involved in its consumption.

Europe has a popular and fast moving market for African foods such as cereals, tubers as well as preserved fish and meat.