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FDA on high alert; questions KNUST students behind survey

The Food and Drugs Authority has held an emergency meeting with postgraduate students of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology who conducted a survey suggesting that some producers soak millipedes in palm oil for sale.

 

The aim of the meeting, the FDA said was to seek clarification on the scientific basis for which the students were making those claims.

A market survey conducted by the students in four major markets in the country revealed that some traders of the product soak millipedes overnight in the palm oil.

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Their reason for doing so, according to the survey, is to give the product a sweet taste and enhance its colour.

The survey, was carried out at the Kumasi central market, Ayigya market in the Ashanti Region, Tamale market in the Northern Region and Techiman market in the Brong Ahafo region.

In an interview with Pulse.com.gh, Head of Communications at the FDA, James Lartey said his outfit is condemning the act, and would deal with traders found culpable.

"We don't have any prove of it being true or not true. But we are condemning the act and have initiated an investigation...Even the students that the Mirror indicated did the research, we have called them and we have spoken to them; how they went and came out with that information," Mr. Lartey said.

Meanwhile, products such as powdered pepper, groundnut paste, fish powder, powdered tomato were also found to be adulterated with items such as milled kola nuts, cassava flour, avocado seeds, corn chaff and millipedes.

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This revelation follows an earlier report in October 2015, which indicated that palm oil was being adulterated with Sudan IV, a cancer-causing agent, to give the product the reddish colour.

The FDA subsequently certified palm oil as safe for consumption after it took samples from all markets in Accra for re-testing.

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