Consuming fungus infested foods is a recipe for infertility, Mr Roderick Daddey-Adjei, Volta and Eastern Zonal Officer of the Food and Drugs Board has warned.

Mr Daddey-Adjei gave the warning at a seminar on “Good Retail and Cold Storage Practices” for about 80 retailers and operators of cold stores in Ho, on Monday.

He said the toxins produced by fungi are adamant to heating or other forms of treatment meant to make such foods wholesome for consumption.

Mr Daddey-Adjei therefore advised people, especially students, against consuming mashed kenkey made from fungus infested kenkey.

He said the FDB is concerned about good hygienic practices in food and food related businesses and drugs safety because of their implications for public health.

Mr Daddey-Adjei said the seminar was therefore being organized in the context of the Board’s strategic direction for 2012, which focuses on capacity building, education and enforcement.

He said the Board was more interested in seeing retailers and others in the food and drugs business conforming to the quality and safety standards of the Board than on confronting them with the law.

Mr Daddey-Adjei therefore advised retailers to refrain from buying their goods from suppliers, who move from place to place offering goods at cheap prices and deal instead with recognized wholesalers, who would issue invoices on goods supplied so they could be traced easily when the need be.

They should also ensure the highest standards of hygiene in and around their retail joints.

The retailers were schooled on biological, physical and chemical hazards in Food and the legal framework within which the FDB is operating. **