The Food and Drugs Board (FDB) has banned a totaled of 48 sachets water (Pure Water) and fruit drink producers in the country for non-registration and operating under unhygienic conditions. This follows reports that the cholera epidemic, which has hit the country, is getting out of hand.

Dr. Alfa M. Mohammed, Head of Animal Products and Bio-Safety (Food Division) of the FDB, made the list of companies which have flouted the Board’s regulations available to The Herald last Friday. The Board has also released the names of companies and their products registered as at Friday 25, March 2011. This paper’s visit to the offices of the Board showed that it has started the circulation of leaflets detailing the causes, symptoms and prevention of Cholera.

It advised washing of hands with soap and running water, keeping food covered or in a close container to avoid flies settling on them and the use of clean and safe water for cooking and drinking as well as the keeping of good sanitation.

According to the leaflet, avoiding the eating of unwashed fruits and vegetables, washing cups, plates, cutlery sets such as forks, spoons and knives with soap and water regularly before use and the reheating of cooked food until piping hot before eating.

It cautioned against buying food sold under unhygienic conditions, and avoids eating cooked food that is not hot and also avoid buying food, fruits and vegetables that are displayed on the ground.

The FDB further warned against buying from vendors who use their bare hands to serve food as they might be contaminated and also to avoid buying cooked food which is cold or exposed to dust and flies, report to the nearest Health care facility for treatment as soon as symptoms are observed.

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines Cholera as an acute intestinal infection caused by ingestion of food or water contaminated with the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. It affects both children and adults, and can kill within hours.

The disease has a short incubation period, from less than one day to five days, and produces an enterotoxin that causes copious, painless, watery diarrhoea that can quickly lead to severe dehydration and death if treatment is not promptly given. Vomiting also occurs in most patients.

About 75 per cent of people infected with V. cholerae do not develop any symptoms, although the bacteria are present in their faeces for 7–14 days after infection and are shed back into the environment, potentially infecting other people.

Among people who develop symptoms, 80 per cent have mild or moderate symptoms, while around 20 percent develop acute watery diarrhoea with severe dehydration which can lead to death if untreated.

People with low immunity – such as malnourished children or people living with HIV – are at a greater risk of death if infected.

The sachet water producing companies that the FDB has blacklisted include, Triumphant Filtered Water, Unique Mineral Water, Icon Fresh Drinking Water, Safari Filtered Natural Water, Crystal Snow Drinking Water, Big Star Drinking Water, Rockman Drinking Water, Eye Ewurade Drinking Water, Tak-Top Filtered Drinking Water, And Flori Filtered Water.

The others are, Hollow Filtered Drinking Water, Enyinda Natural Mineral Water, Principles Filtered Drinking Water, Future Drinking Water, Njoy Filtered Drinking Water, PEP Drinking Water, Franklin Filtered Drinking Water, Regco Drinking Water, Cleat Taste Natural Mineral Water, Eye Adom Filtered Drinking Water, Ever Clear Drinking Water.

The list also includes fruit drink companies; BIDASH non-alcoholic beverages, Victory Fresh Pineapple Juice, Fruitco Foods Processing Ltd, Prime Fruit Processing, Prince Processing Company.

Signals picked up by The Herald suggest that the companies would be surcharged by the Board before they are allowed to operate. Already, some of the companies have been invited for questioning by the police and FDB officials.

Meanwhile, the Board has set up a post surveillance team tasked with the clearing of the blacklisted companies from the market.

Below is the list of the sachets water the FDB has banned in the country; Cool Natural Mineral Water, Tak-Top Filtered Drinking Water, (NES Aqua), Hollow Filtered Drinking Water, Sure Coolers, Horizon Mineral Water, Chita Drinking Water, Triumphant Filtered Water, Unique Mineral Water, Icon Fresh Drinking Water, Safari Filtered Natural Water, Crystal Snow Drinking Water, Big Star Drinking Water, Rockman Drinking Water, Victory Fresh Pineapple Juice, Eye Ewurade Drinking Water,

Enyinda Natural Mineral Water, Principles Filtered Drinking Water, Future Drinking, Water PEP Drinking Water, Franklin Filtered Drinking Water, Regco drinking water, Clear Taste Natural Mineral Water, Living faith drinking water, Eye adom filtered drinking water, Ever clear drinking water, Flori filtered water, Fruit Fruit, Juice juice, Vitality Water, TMN Sachet Water, Aqua Sweet Water.

Others are Evergreen Drinking Water, Virgin Fresh Water, Yes 101‘N’ Joy, Adom Surunku, Too Fresh Fresh Taste, DX Sachet Water, Fresh Drop Filtered Drinking Water, Principles Filtered Water, Potential Filtered Drinking Water, Almat Drinking Water, Bonjour Drinking Water, WetLord Filtered Water, Flashy Cool, Aquachill Filtered Water, Advance Fresh, Acquachill Filtered Water, and Eye True Filtered Drinking Water.