By Gloria Amoh
The Food and Drug Authority (FDA) has cautioned the general public that it may shut down canteens and food service units of public institutions that operate without a valid food hygiene permit from the authority.
The authority has therefore warned all unlicensed food service establishments that anybody who fails to acquire the Food Hygiene Permit by the end of February 2024 will “attract the requisite regulatory sanctions, which may include the shut down of facilities, fines, and or criminal prosecutions.”.
In a statement signed by the Chief Executive Officer of the Food and Drugs Authority, Dr. Delese Mimi Darko, the authority emphasized the need to protect the public from potential disease outbreaks by ensuring that food service establishments comply with safety regulations.
Dr. Delese advised institutions only to patronize licensed caterers for catering services and encouraged them to verify vendors’ food hygiene permit status before engaging their services.
In a statement by the authority, this was to ensure that only safe food was served to students, workers, and patients of establishments, and also to prevent the risk of food-borne illnesses.
“The FDA cannot guarantee the quality of operations or the safety of food prepared by establishments that do not have valid food hygiene permits.
However, the Food and Drugs Authority urged the general public to report any food service establishment operating without the Food Hygiene Permit to the authorities for them to take the necessary action.
According to the FDA, food service establishments operating without a valid Food Hygiene Permit from the FDA violate Section 130(1) of the Public Health Act 2012 (Act 851), which states that “a person shall not manufacture for sale, sell, supply, or store products regulated under this Part except in premises registered for that purpose under this Part.”.
Additionally, the FDA stated that “institutions operating unlicensed food service units are advised to take immediate steps to rectify their status by applying for a permit and undergoing food safety inspections.”
