The Chief Executive Officer of the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), Delese Mimi Darko, has cautioned oil palm producers in Ghana to desist from the use of Sudan IV in oil palm production.

She made the call at the launch of the Artisanal Palm Oil app in Accra last week.

Mimi Darko acknowledged the good initiative that Artisanal Palm Oil Millers and Outgrowers Association have put in place to help curb the menace of Sudan IV in Ghana.

She, however, echoed that the FDA would continue to sample and test palm oil every year to sanction those involved in putting unwholesome chemicals in their palm oil.

“We would sample and test all palm oil in the market. We are pleading with the producers, wholesalers, retailers and consumers and the public to refrain from the use of Sudan IV in palm oil,” she warned.

President of the Artisanal Palm Oil Millers and Outgrowers Association, Paul Amaning, assured consumers that they are going to do everything possible to make sure they help the FDA to curb the menace of Sudan IV.

About the app

The purpose of the Artisanal Palm Oil app is to ensure that authentic and healthy palm oil are sold in the Ghanaian market.

The app has functions to detect if the QR code of the branded palm oil is approved by the Food and Drugs Authority.

The app can also display information about the producers of the palm oil with their pictures and location for consumers to easily identify the origin of the product.

The event organised by the Artisanal Palm Oil Millers and Outgrowers Association was under the theme, ‘Introducing Digital Technology into the Palm Oil Industry to curb the menace of Sudan IV’.

CEO of the Tree Crop Development Authority, William Quaitoo, chaired the program.

Others such as the CEO for the National Food Buffer Stock Company, Alhaji Hanan Abdul-Wahab, and a representative from the Ghana Enterprises Agency, Eunice Adjorkor were also there to grace the occasion.

Members of Artisanal Palm Oil Millers and Outgrowers Association from Eastern Region, Central Region and other parts of Ghana, together with other groups such as students from the Department of Information Technology at Pentecost University, Executives of Okyeman Youth For Development, Apedwa Youth Club, Oil Palm Development Association Ghana, and Solidaridad Ghana were there to support the launch of the app.