The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) says it is overwhelmed by the number of palm oil producers submitting their products for testing.
The FDA has warned that about 98% of confiscated barrels of palm oil containing Sudan IV, an industrial dye used in the coloration of plastics and other synthetic products which is likely to cause cancer.
These were on sale at 10 markets including Mallam Atta, Dome, Dansoman, Agbogbloshie and Kaneshie markets, all in Accra.
The notice caused panic among most food vendors and consumers; with some suspending the intake of palm oil foods.
Speaking to Citi News, the Principal Regulatory Officer at the FDA, Kofi Essel said the FDA is working closely with producers and retailers to ensure that the right products are put on the market.
“We have so far received a lot of submissions. We have groups of producers who submit their products voluntarily for testing before they finally send them to the market for distribution. We also have a situation where the market queens themselves have taken the battle so we are working very closely with them to make sure that the right thing is done.”
Mr. Essel also revealed that the number of tested stock so far is safe to be sent to the market for consumption.
He however revealed that is intensifying its surveillance in the markets and will destroy all adulterated products.
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