The CEO of Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), Mrs. Delese Mimi Darko has cautioned oil palm producers in Ghana to desist from the use of Sudan IV in their oil palm production during the Palm Oil Goes Digital Launch at Mensvic Hotel, Accra.
She acknowledged the good initiative that Artisanal Palm Oil Millers and Out-growers Association have put in place to help curb the menace of SUDAN IV in Ghana, however, FDA would continue to work with the association to collect samples of the palm oil and test every year to sanction those who add unwholesome chemicals in their palm oil.
“We would sample and test all palm oil in the market to bring down all those who are using harmful chemicals for production, we are pleading with the producers, wholesalers, retailers, consumers, and the public to refrain from the use of Sudan IV in palm oil for the benefit of our health”, Mrs. Delese Mimi Darko added.
She encouraged the members of the Artisanal Palm Oil Millers and Outgrowers Association to educate palm oil producers on the effects of chemical additives on human health and bring members to the association to help curb the menace of SUDAN IV.
She urged the general public not to panic but to patronize the palm oil because FDA is working sedulously to bring down perpetrators in the sector.
Mr. Paul Amaning, the President of Artisanal Palm Oil Millers and Outgrowers Association assured the commitment of the association to work hard to assist the government and the FDA to curb the menace of the SUDAN IV.
According to him, agritech is critical to the development of the agriculture sector. The new technology in the oil palm sector that is the App would function to detect if the QR code of the branded palm oil is coming from an approved FDA or not before purchasing.
He added that the app would display information about the producer of the palm oil with their pictures and location for easy identification of the producer by the consumer.
He called on the general public to assist in combating this act by identifying producers who use SUDAN IV for production in their communities.
