FDA seizes flood-damaged drinks in Bubiashie, warns against health risks
The Food and Drugs Authority FDA has confiscated a large quantity of flood-damaged bottled water and soft drinks that traders were attempting to clean, repackage, and resell. The seizure occurred after intelligence revealed a distributor moved compromised inventory from Alajo to a private residence in Bubiashie, where approximately one truckload of mud-caked beverages was being prepared for sale. A separate investigation by the Ghana Police Service in Kaneshie led to an arrest and the recovery of more affected goods. The FDA warned that floodwaters contain hazardous contaminants like raw sewage, and simply washing the outside of bottles does not make the contents safe, as seals and packaging can be compromised. Consuming such products poses a significant risk of cholera, typhoid fever, and dysentery. The authority reminded the public that distributing contaminated food is a criminal offense under the Public Health Act, 2012 Act 851. Manufacturers, distributors, and retailers affected by flooding are instructed to quarantine damaged stock and notify the FDA for safe disposal, rather than attempting to salvage goods. The FDA urged the public to be vigilant, avoid purchasing beverages with mud stains or peeling labels, buy only from licensed outlets, and report suspicious sales to the FDA or police.
