FOOD AND DRUGS BOARD TO CHASE NON-IODINE SALT PRODUCERS

Story & Pix: Benjamin Xornam Glover, Bolgatanga The Upper East Regional Office of the Food and Drugs Board has indicated that the number cases of Goitre and stunted growth in children for example, have reduced in their numbers in the Bolgatanga Municipality and other districts across region. This according to the outfit is due to an increase public education carried out by the FDB on the need to use only iodated salt . Speaking to journalists at Bolgatanga, the officer in charge of the FDB in the region, Mr. Eugene Addo expressed his satisfaction at development adding that the number of ill health cases associated with iodine deficiency in the region is fast reducing, after a series public education on the importance of iodine in the human system. He said available information says sufficient intake of iodine into the human system helps in making children more intelligent in school, prevents Goitre and Cretinism (stunted growth). He said the FDB is is not relenting in its public education efforts on the consumption of iodated salt and the dangers associated with iodine deficiency and said under a sponsorship package by World Food Programme, the board will reach out to all stakeholders to ensure that the right thing is done. Meanwhile, the FDB has intensified its public education programme educate traders and commercial users of salt in the region on some of the regulations governing transportation, storage and sales of Salt in the country. Mr. Eugene Addo and his team who visited some markets in the municipality cautioned traders selling non-iodide salt and those producing non-iodide salts, to desist or will be fished out for prosecution. According to him, it is still an offense punishable under the Food and Drugs amended Act, 1996 (Act 523) to produce, distribute or offer to sell salt for human or animal consumption if it not adequately iodated. Mr Addo said the law also covers transportation of non-iodated salt without a permit from the Food and Drugs Board adding that non-iodated salt is only allowed to be transported for industrial use only and has to be permitted by the F.D.B. -End- July 18,2012