The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) is calling for legislation to regulate the operations of corn mills and other milling outlets across the country to improve food safety and reduce the risk of contamination.
The Authority says stronger regulatory measures and improved hygiene practices are needed to ensure that milling activities meet acceptable food safety standards.
The Head of Food Industrial Support Services at the FDA, Ebenezer Kofi Essel, says Ghana must reconsider the continued use of traditional commercial milling systems, which he believes could pose potential risks to food safety.
According to him, there is a need to gradually phase out traditional mills and adopt safer and more modern milling technologies to minimise the risk of contamination during food processing.
Mr. Essel is also urging Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to intensify inspections of milling outlets within their jurisdictions.
He said authorities must pay particular attention to hygiene practices and ensure that operators comply with the required food safety standards.
Meanwhile, the Madina La Nkwantanang Municipal Assembly’s Sanitation Department has intensified inspections of milling outlets within the Madina Market as part of efforts to promote food safety and improve hygiene.
The sanitation officers assessed various aspects of the milling operations, including the quality and source of water used for milling, as well as the general sanitary conditions of the facilities.
The Head of the Madina La Nkwantanang Municipal Assembly Sanitation Department, Daniel Tetteh, said the Assembly has taken the lead in ensuring that millers across the municipality obtain the necessary health certification.
He said the certification forms part of measures to ensure that milling operators maintain proper hygiene standards and protect consumers from potential health risks.
The heads of the milling outlets also commended the sanitation officers for the exercise, saying the inspections would help promote best practices and encourage mill operators to improve their hygiene standards.
The FDA believes closer collaboration among regulators, local authorities and milling operators will be essential to strengthening food safety and protecting consumers across the country.
By Kingsley Adusei-Amakye
