FDA warns public against consuming flood-affected food and beverages

The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has cautioned the public against buying or consuming food and beverage products with peeling, stained or discoloured labels, warning that such products may have been exposed to floodwater and could pose serious health risks.

The warning follows flooding recorded in parts of the country on June 29. In a public advisory, the FDA explained that floodwater can contain sewage, waste, and other dangerous contaminants that can compromise packaged food and drinks, even when the contents appear undamaged.

The Authority stressed that simply washing the exterior of bottles or shrink-wrapped packages does not make flood-affected products safe. It noted that bottles, caps, seals and other forms of packaging can become compromised after being submerged in contaminated water.

According to the FDA, consuming contaminated products could expose people to illnesses such as cholera, typhoid, dysentery and other water-borne diseases.

The public has therefore been advised to avoid products showing mud stains, watermarks, or other signs of flood exposure on the packaging, bottle, cap, or label, including labels that are stained, peeling, or discoloured.

Consumers have also been urged to be cautious when purchasing food and beverages from unusual locations or vendors selling products in bulk without a clearly identifiable source. The FDA recommends buying such products only from licensed and reputable outlets.

Households and shop owners have been instructed to safely dispose of any food or beverage products that came into contact with floodwater. The Authority warned that such items should neither be stored for later consumption nor offered for sale.

Manufacturers, distributors and retailers have similarly been directed not to wash, repackage, relabel or resell products damaged by flooding.

Instead, affected stock should be isolated, with the nearest FDA office contacted for inspection, verification and safe disposal.

The FDA further warned that anyone who fails to comply with the directive could face legal sanctions, as such violations constitute an offence under the law.