It
is highly devastating that as Ghana strives at all cost to achieve optimal
health as possible, some group of individuals explore various dubious means for
their selfish interests at the expense of the entire health of the people of
our motherland…Indeed, we still remain our own enemies as
a people.
Indeed,
What man eats or drinks has a greater part to play as to whether he lives
longer and healthier or otherwise, and our heart bleeds profusely when beyond
all the numerous health issues we are battling as a nation, we still have some
citizens, in one way or the other perpetuating act that amount to food
insecurity in this country.
All
can vividly recall the warning from the Foods and Drugs Authority (FDA) of
Ghana as published on myjoyonline.com on the 26th October, 2015 dissuading all
from the use and purchase of PALM OIL. In the publication, 98% of 50 palm oil
samples from Mallam market, Mallam Atta market, Dome market, Dansoman market,
Agbogbloshie market, Kaneshie market, Tema community 1 market, Ashaiman market,
Madina market and Makola No.2 market, tested positive for Sudan IV
contamination.
There
is a highly probable indication, taking clue of the publication that almost all
the palm oils in the Ghanaian markets maybe contaminated since the stated
markets serve greatly as supply centers from the places of production.
This
development has left many of the populace asking several questions as to what
to do when one has already taken palm oil within the few months among others.
Yes, you may have been a victim, you may have gotten used to Palm Oil and
wondering how possible it is for you to stop; maybe you have purchased it in
bulk and are also wondering and calculating your losses, However, the National
Health Students’ Association of Ghana (NAHSAG) is by this publication
encouraging all the good people of Ghana to strictly heed to the advice from
the FDA since your health and as such our health as a nation cannot be put
secondary to any other thing. We shall further encourage the use of the various
mono and poly unsaturated oils such as coconut oils, virgin sunflower oil, and
soya beans oils as progress is been made towards restoring safety so far as the
use of Palm Oil is concerned.
As
a caution to all dealers who may not have known the medical concerns regarding
to the consumption of the Sudan III and IV dyes, they are fat soluble dyes
considered in food health as illegal dyes, mainly because of their harmful
effect when use over a long period of time, as they are carcinogenic (cancer
causing agents). These dyes were ruled unsafe in the 1995 Food Safety
Regulations report and their use in any consumptive materials must be avoided.
Moreover,
these reddish brown crystal-like dyes are classified by the International
Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) to be part of the Category III Carcinogens
and further proposes that they should not breathed, and contact with skin and
eyes must be avoided let alone to be eaten in PALM OILS as happening in
our beloved country.
Many
who use these dyes with the motive of enhancing and maintaining the colour of
the food to thereby increase their market values are unfortunately selling out
cancer inducing agents knowingly or unknowingly.
What
to do if you have already taken such products.
It
is obvious that, consumers who have been using these products may now be
worried about its potential ill effects but there, no immediate health risk.
The dyes shall only exert a harmful effect if taken in LARGE QUANTITIES OVER A
PROLONGED PERIOD OF TIME (Rooyen, 2007), hence the best course of action is for
consumers to dispose of previously purchased products and avoid the use of Palm
Oil until the FDA states otherwise in the coming days.
We
hasten to add that the law enforcement agencies of our noble country with all
urgency should keep an eagle eye and bring all perpetrators of such diabolic
acts to face the rigors law of the lands and urge all to help expose
perpetrators of such acts.
We
lastly take this opportunity to commend the Ghana Foods and Drugs Authority for
their perpetual commitment to ensuring the safety of all Ghanaians.
Long
Live NAHSAG!!
Long
Live Ghana!
NAHSAG…..United
for Health!
Signed
SAMPSON
KAFUI DJONOR
(General
Secretary)
AMOAKOHENE
FRANK
(President)
No comments:
Post a Comment