The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) say it suspect poor food handling practices may have resulted in the contamination of the waakye that has led to the foodborne disease outbreak at Oyibi, within the Adenta Municipality, in the Greater Accra Region.
The reported foodborne disease outbreak affected 53 people with one death.
The FDA’s attention was drawn to the incident to the incident through its Food Safety Alert System on Sunday, 22nd January 2023, on a suspected foodborne disease outbreak which was reported to have occurred at Oyibi, within the Adenta Municipality, in the Greater Accra Region.
In line with the Food Safety Emergency Response Plan, a joint investigation with the Ghana Health Service (GHS) started immediately.
Investigations revealed that a total of fifty-three (53) people experienced symptoms of foodborne disease after consuming waakye or plain rice and tomato stew from a food vendor called Yellow Sisi located at Bush Canteen, a suburb of Oyibi.
So far one person has been reported dead, but the exact cause of death is yet to be confirmed.
Environmental assessment of the food preparation site located at Malejor and the three vending sites at Bush Canteen, Prison Joint and Sharp Curve Joint revealed poor food handling practices which could have resulted in the contamination of the food, leading to the foodborne disease outbreak.
The FDA has suspended the operations of Yellow Sisi until measures have been put in place to ensure that their activities are brought into compliance to prevent future occurrence.
The FDA launched its Street Food Vending Scheme in November 2021, in conjunction with the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies.
The Scheme, which was developed under the FAO Healthy Street Food Incentive Project, aims at issuing compliant vendors with a Street Food Vending Permit.
Consumers must therefore insist on seeing these permits in their favorite eateries before patronizing their services.
We strongly urge street food vendors to apply for the Permit.
The FDA urges anyone with further information on the incident to reach out to them on any of the
contacts: 0551112224/5
fda@fda.gov.gh
fdaghana fdaghana
By Peter Quao Adattor
Full statement below
