The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), as part of its mandate to ensure public health and safety and the overall wellbeing of the public, has organised the 9th edition of its monthly market durbar at Mallam Market.

This was done in association with Environmental Health Officers from the Ablekuma North Municipal Assembly. The objective of the sensitisation is to educate market women and consumers on the dangers associated with unhygienic handling of food and the abuse of drugs and other substances.

The officers from the Food Safety Management Department of the FDA said the Authority has received reports that some market women add yeast to corn dough and cassava dough while others also add kola nuts to powder pepper.

Mr. Benjamine Osei Tutu, an officer with the FDA, stressed on the need for the market women to desist from adulteration of food items since it may be deadly for human when consumed. He pleaded with them to always put the wellbeing of the public first before thinking of hefty gains.

Mr Francis Fiifi Essuman from the Agro Products and Biosafety Department of the FDA advised sellers to keep agro produce under the right condition to ensure its safety.

The market folks were also educated on the harmful effects of cigarette and tobacco, public smoking, abuse of tramadol and the dangers associated with buying medicines from peddlers.

The Environmental Health Officers from the Ablekuma North Municipal Assembly also indicated the need to maintain environmental hygiene in the market to prevent breeding of rodents and other pests from contaminating their food items.