Coconut sellers in Ghana to be screened for consumer safety assurance

GHANA – Mr. Delawson Asafo, an Environmental Health Officer representing Asuogyaman, has advocated for mandatory medical screenings for coconut vendors to safeguard consumer safety.

He advocated for the medical screening of coconut vendors to ensure consumer safety, stressing the necessity for analogous regulations to those governing other food vendors.

Highlighting the potential health risks stemming from poor hygiene practices in the coconut trade, Asafo emphasized the need for collaboration between regulatory bodies.

“Food and Drugs Authority and the Environmental Health Department should collaborate to design and implement stringent screening procedures,” he said.

Coconut consumer Ms. Yvonne Abayateye , echoing these concerns, underscored the need for regulation, expressing worry over vendors’ appearance and hygiene practices despite the perceived health benefits associated with coconuts.

“The drive for enhanced hygiene standards and regulatory oversight signals a pivotal moment in steering the coconut trade towards safer and more sustainable practices,” she said

Industry-led sustainable alliances steer best practices in the coconut supply chain

Amidst these safety and sustainability efforts, the Sustainable Coconut Partnership, an initiative spearheaded by key FMCG and ingredients giants, has unveiled an updated charter aimed at combatting unsustainable practices prevalent within the coconut supply chain.

This collaborative endeavor seeks to eradicate unsustainable methods in coconut production by implementing a framework of best practices, impactful programs, and aligning industry requisites for all supply chain stakeholders.

The inception of this Partnership traces back to 2019, initially conceived during Gregory Bardies, the executive director of the Sustainable Coconut Partnership’s tenure in sustainability at Barry Callebaut.

It was then that the exploration of sustainable practices within coconut production unveiled an alarming scarcity of publicly available information about industry methodologies.

“We found there was very little public knowledge about sustainable certified products,” mentioned Bardies.

Furthermore, the Sustainable Coconut Partnership’s charter focuses on fostering a holistic approach to sustainability within the coconut industry.

It aims to establish standardized industry norms that promote eco-friendly farming practices, ensuring fair wages for farmers, and mitigating environmental degradation.

The commitment extends to fostering collaborative research initiatives and technological advancements to streamline supply chain efficiencies while upholding ethical and sustainable practices.

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