Fatalities associated with suspected food poisoning under serious jurisdictions are critical matters, more so, when the anomaly is consistent in recurrence.
A couple of years or so ago, Cape Coast recorded a serious incidence of food poisoning followed by another elsewhere both having something to do with rice and beans, otherwise called waakye.
As for non-fatal ones, there are of course many which have gone unreported and therefore, not attracting the attention of food hygiene experts. For many afflicted with such health anomalies walking into nearby unregulated medical drug sellers does the magic and that closes the chapter. That is what occurs in our part of the world, the consequences of which can only be imagined by medical experts.
Food safety is something we have taken for granted for far too long although the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) personnel have tried under the trying circumstances to execute their mandate as expected of them.
The FDA can only succeed in the execution of their mandate only when Ghanaians in whose interest the authority was established render the appropriate support.
Only a fraction of patrons of food joints will bother to call the attention of the FDA to dishes, the aftermath of whose consumption leads to sickness or even fatalities.
The recent headlining suspected food poisoning episode in Accra has captured the imagination of some many people in the country although some theories are pointing at foul play.
Be it at it may, the FDA and related agencies have the wherewithal to unravel the circumstances which led to the incident.
It is the expectation of Ghanaians that investigations into what went wrong would be expedited so that the necessary lessons would be learnt and punitive measures taken as the case may be.
Taken things for granted has been a characteristic of the average Ghanaian for far too long and costly so.
Occasionally, public address systems are used to encourage food sellers to turn up for the necessary processes in establishing their health statuses by the various assemblies. Only a fraction of such persons even turn up and soon the exercise is over, and persons not fit to sell food because of their adverse health statuses continue to serve their customers.
Certain health conditions on the part of food sellers, will definitely be transmitted to consumers, knowledge of which many do not have. A type of hepatitis, when it is present in a food seller, will be transmitted easily to patrons of the food being sold.
The FDA and the various assemblies must heighten both their enforcement and education programmes to save innocent consumers from endangering themselves through contaminated foods.
Five persons losing their lives and others hospitalised after consuming food outside their homes is a heart-wrenching story.
Periodic and consistent inspection of health certificates of food vendors should be carried out and consistently so.
Unwholesome food can kill hence the need to be vigilant. The danger posed by cooked rice kept overnight when it is not sold out is something many do not know, yet many food sellers do so with disturbing consequences on consumers. We are eagerly waiting for the outcome of the investigations into the waakye fatalities at Yellow Sisi’s Joint.