FDA to certify caterers and vendors in SHS in Eastern Region

The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) is to train and certify caterers as well as vendors in Senior High Schools, in the Eastern region, to ensure the safety of students.
    
This according to the Regional Director, Mr Samuel Kwakye, is to improve the hygienic conditions on campuses and create awareness of food safety to the caterers, who work at the schools’ canteen and the dining areas.
    
He said in order to achieve a holistic objective, the training and certification would be extended to all other vendors within the school and its vicinity and indicated that it would be in collaboration with the school’s management to have full compliance.
    
This was disclosed in an interview with the GNA, following a recorded case of food contamination that occurred at that the Ghana Secondary School (Ghanass) in Koforidua, leading to the hospitalization of some students at the Regional Hospital.
    
He said following the incident, the FDA moved in and stopped all caterers and vendors on the campus and around from selling any kind of food to the students. They were later taken through food handling safety and hygiene and certified before being allowed to continue their business.
    
The Regional Director said the strategy proved to be effective and therefore would be replicated in all the Senior High Schools across the region, in line with “our mandate to ensure the safety of food and drugs for consumers at all times”.
    
He explained that food vendors and caterers, especially at the small scale level, were not strictly required to register their businesses as those producing other foods and beverages on a larger scale and quantity and so the certification exercise would enable the FDA to ensure the safety of consumers at the small vendor level.

Source: GNA