The Government Analyst Food and Drug Department (GA-FDD) yesterday issued an advisory warning the consuming public not to buy “DOST Patent Barley” flour, which it says is adulterated with wheaten flour in violation of the Food and Drug Act.
A press release from the GA-FDD said the product bears the label “Product of Canada, packed exclusively for Geetanjali Rai, Guyana.”
According to the release, after weeks of “meticulous investigation and collaboration among Inspectors and Analytical scientific Officers,” and an analysis conducted by the Food Chemistry laboratory of the GA-FDD, it was discovered that the product was adulterated with wheaten flour. “This is in contravention of the Laws of Guyana Food & Drug Act Chapter 34:03, Section 25, Part 5, which states that “Any person who sells an article of food that is adulterated is guilty of an offence,”” the release said.
It was explained that the investigation was the result of concerns raised and complaints lodged at the Monthly National Food Safety and Control Committee Meeting.
The department, the release said, visited the premises of Geetanjali Rai at Canal #1, West Coast Demerara on May 11 and May 12, 2017 and on both occasions the inspectors were unable to gain access. It noted that the denial of access to the inspectors is also a violation of the Food and Drug Act.
In addition to advising consumers against purchasing the product, the GA-FDD announced that its investigation has been widened to target and analyse similar products, including both intra and extra-regional imports.
Additionally, it was stated that Environmental Health Officers in the regions will now be targeting other brands for analysis. “The department will continue to utilize the resources that are to our disposal to facilitate trade and most importantly to protect consumers of our society against falsified and/or substandard food, drug, cosmetics and medical devices,” the release added.
