The Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) has warned that public institution canteens and food service units will be closed if they do not have a valid Food Hygiene Permit from the agency.
It has, therefore, warned all unlicensed food service establishments that failure to acquire the Food Hygiene Permit by February 29, 2024, would “attract the requisite regulatory sanctions, which may include closure of facilities, fines, and/or criminal prosecutions.”
It has therefore advised canteens of schools, hospitals, and all corporate institutions to ensure that their food service facilities “are inspected and licensed by the FDA”.
They were also told “to only contract the services of licensed caterers for catering of corporate meetings/lunches and daily meals for students and patients” .
The warning, the authority stated, had become necessary to protect the public from the risk of disease spread and epidemic outbreaks in the country or among populations.
According to a statement signed by the FDA’s Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Delese Mimi Darko, institutions should require vendors who apply for or are awarded contracts to provide valid Food Hygiene Permits as part of the institution’s requirements.
Institutional canteens or caterers that do not have Food Hygiene Permits must take immediate action to comply with the FDA by applying for the Food Hygiene Permit and making their facilities available for food safety inspections.”
According to the statement, this was done to ensure that only safe food was served to students, employees, and patients at establishments, as well as to reduce the risk of food-borne illnesses.
“The FDA cannot ensure the quality of operations or the safety of food prepared by establishments that do not hold valid Food Hygiene Permits.
Please keep in mind that a list of licensed Food Service Establishments is available on our website and can always be obtained from any of our offices across the country,” the statement continued.
The FDA also advised the public to only contract with and patronize establishments that had obtained a valid Food Hygiene Permit from the authority, emphasizing that “the FDA cannot guarantee the quality of operations and the safety of food sold in unlicensed Food Service Establishments”.
The FDA encouraged the public to look for the Food Hygiene Permit, which must be displayed in a visible location at the facility, and to report any food service establishments that did not have it to the FDA.
