‘Expired’ Rice Case: We are ready for audits, says FDA

The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has expressed its willingness to undergo audits by both local and international bodies to validate its actions regarding the alleged distribution of unwholesome rice to Senior High Schools (SHS).

The FDA has been criticized for allegedly failing to conduct proper due diligence before extending the best-before date for over 22,000 bags of 50kg rice imported by Lamens Investments Africa Limited.

In a press conference on Tuesday, Dr. Delese Mimi Darko, the FDA’s Chief Executive Officer, defended the authority’s actions, stating that all approvals granted were in strict adherence to regulatory standards and best practices.

“The FDA is open to audits by qualified local and international bodies to validate all its actions,” Dr. Darko said.

She explained that the FDA had followed international best practices for food safety, including managing use-by dates, expiry dates, and best-before-end dates.

“The authority, like other authorities globally, may use accepted regulatory extensions of best-before dates, following rigorous testing and compliance with storage requirements, and this is in line with international best practices.”

Dr. Darko emphasized the FDA’s commitment to transparency and safeguarding public health amid the ongoing scrutiny, assuring the public of its diligence in overseeing food safety.

“We remain steadfast in our commitment to ensuring food safety and protecting public health,” she affirmed.

Addressing concerns about the rice in question, Dr. Darko further assured the public that comprehensive testing and verification processes had been conducted before its release for distribution.

“The FDA also wishes to assure the public that it confronts the wholesomeness of the consignment of rice in question and gives assurance that with all the other certificates that were submitted from India, from PPRSD, from CSIR-FRI, and concluded that the rice was wholesome before it was released for distribution,” she added.

Reporting By Jonathan Ofori, Asaase Newsroom, Kumasi

Asaase Broadcasting Company airs on Asaase 99.5 Accra, Asaase 98.5 Kumasi, Asaase 99.7 Tamale, Asaase 100.3 Cape Coast, AsaasePa 107.3 (Accra).
Affiliates: Bawku FM 101.5, Bead FM 99.9 (Bimbilla), Mining City Radio 89.5 (Tarkwa), Nandom FM 101.9, Nyatefe Radio 94.5 (Dzodze), Sissala Radio 96.3 (Tumu), Somuaa FM 89.9 (Gushegu), Stone City 90.7 (Ho) and Wale FM 106.9 (Walewale).
Listen online: asaaseradio.com, Sound Garden and TuneIn.
Follow us:
X: @asaaseradio995, @Asaase985ksi, @Asaase997tamale, @asaase1003, asaasepa1073
Instagram: asaaseradio99.5, asaase985ksi, asaase100.3, asaase99.7tamale, asaasepa107.3

LinkedIn: company/asaaseradio995. TikTok: @asaaseradio99.5

Facebook: asaase99.5, asaase985ksi, Asaase100.3, asaase99.7, AsaasePa107.3.
YouTube: AsaaseRadioXtra.
Join the conversation. Accra: call 020 000 9951/054 888 8995, WhatsApp 020 000 0995. Kumasi: call 059 415 7985 or call/WhatsApp 020 631 5260. Tamale: call/WhatsApp/SMS 053 554 6468. Cape Coast: call/WhatsApp 059 388 2652.
#AsaaseRadio
#AsaasePa
#TheVoiceofOurLand

The post ‘Expired’ Rice Case: We are ready for audits, says FDA appeared first on Asaase Radio.