The National Food Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) in Rivers State is targeting food outlets now over the use of paracetamol and other drugs to soften meats.
State Coordinator of the agency, Mrs. Chinelo Ejeh told The Tide in an exclusive chat that the aim of visiting food outlets is to enlighten them on the dangers of the use of paracetamol to cook and soften meats.
Worried over activities of some food vendors and road side restaurants in the habit of using drugs to soften meats, Ejeh said they are putting the lives of their customers to danger.
“ That kind of meat is dangerous to the health of the liver and kidney and we believes there are other methods to soften meats than engaging in such act” the NAFDAC Coordinator said.
With the recent report of coronavirus in the country, Ejeh said it plans to commence sensitization on the populace on the need to be alert and practise self hygiene to avoid contracting virus.
Commenting on the activities of the agency to mop up expired and unregistered products, She disclosed that last week the agency visited some supermarkets within Rumuola, Trans Amadi and Rumuibekwe.
“About seven of the supermarkets have been sanctioned and we will not relent” she said.
On its activities to check unhygienic sachet and bottle water production and bakeries across the state, she stated that four outlets were shut down in Diobu area- two sachet water producers and two bakeries.
“One of the bakeries was not registered and the other one was producing in a very unhygienic environment, “Ejeh explained.
She assured that it will beef up efforts in it’s enforcement at the local areas, disclosing that recently it carried out some monitoring at Eleme, Onne, Bonny and Omoku.