Accra, Jan. 23, GNA - The Surveillance Unit of the Food and Drugs Board (FDB) has noticed the distribution and sale of fake hords brown gold cocoa powder that bears features similar to the original product.

A statement signed by the Chief Executive of the Board, Dr Stephen Opuni, copied to the Ghana News Agency in Accra, said Buchberger Enterprise, located at Baatsonaa on the Spintex Road, Accra, and owned by Mr Patrick Amankwah-Edusei, was identified as the producer of the fake cocoa powder.

It said: “ the owner has been arrested for further investigations by the Police for producing fake product at an unlicensed facility, and under unhygienic conditions contrary to provisions of the Food and Drugs Law, 1992 (PNDC L 305B).”

The statement said operations of the factory have been suspended and raw materials, packaging materials as well as finished products found there have been seized for destruction.

It said: “activities of Buchberger Enterprise pose a great public health risk as products from the facility have not been evaluated by the Food and Drugs Board and confirmed as safe for human consumption.”

The statement advised retailers and consumers, who might have received supplies of the cocoa powder or purchased samples for sale, to look out for the embossed HORDS logo on the plastic bottle neck.

“Any hords brown gold cocoa powder without this embossed logo should not be used as its quality and safety cannot be guaranteed. The Food and Drugs Board should be immediately notified”, it said.

The statement called on the public to draw the attention of the FDB to any person or persons, who might be involved in the production or sale of any fake food product .