Professor Kofi Sefa-Dedeh, Vice Chairperson of the Codex Alimentarius Commission, on Thursday said the country needed strong consumer associations to be able to check what food processors sell to the public.

He said food safety was an essential component of sustainable development, which also constituent public health and reduced poverty.

Prof Sefa-Dedeh said these during the first public lecture in the series to commemorate the Golden Jubilee celebration of Codex Alimentarius Commission, Ghana, on the theme: “Securing the Safety of our Food; a shared responsibility,” in Accra.

Codex Alimentarius Commissions is a state agency established in 1963 to develop food standards, guidelines and related texts such as codes of practices under the joint Food and Agriculture Organisation and the World Health Organisation.

“It increase food security, protects the environment and add to global competitiveness,” Prof Sefa-Dedeh said.

He said securing food safety required the prevention of the conditions and practices that compromised the quality of the food.

Prof. Sefa-Dedeh said that the country needed public-private partnership to ensure food safety.

He advocated the development of food safety policy, to ensure a country-free food borne disease.

Prof. Sefa-Dede entreated Government to strengthen the Ghana Standards Authority and the Food and Drugs Board with resources, to enable them to play their regulatory role effectively.

The Vice Chairperson, called on stakeholders to sensitize consumers on the importance of food safety to national development.**