By CHINYERE Nnaemeka
The Imo State House of Assembly has called on the Commissioners in charge of the Ministries of Health, Environment, Information, the Imo State Consumers Protection Council, and the National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to collaborate and sensitize the people of the state, on the need to be conscious of checking product expiry dates before purchase and consumption.
This ensued on Tuesday from a motion moved by the Member Representing Mbaitoli State Constituency, Hon. Innocent Ikpamezie, during the House Plenary.
Presenting the motion, the Mbaitoli lawmaker, who stated that the sensitization is to enhance and ensure healthy living of the people of the State, pointed out that 80% of consumers of packaged products in the State, do not check expiry dates of the products they purchase from the markets and supermarkets.
He averred that such should be corrected as consumption of those kind of products can lead to food poisoning with symptoms like fever, stomach cramps, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting including serious bacterial infections and threat to life.
According to him, “I brought up this motion so people will be cautious of what they are consuming especially. Most times, our people normally take precaution only when issues come up, but I as House Committee Chairman on Environment, have decided to take it upon myself to fish out those issues which if not tackled could adversely affect the healthy living of the people of the state.
“I decided to bring up the issue after the research I did into some supermarket, and shops where I discovered some expired products. I found out that this challenge is more rampant now as the situation of the country has ensued such.
“Even some consumers, despite knowing the health implications of consuming such products still go ahead to do so, because it is cheap and also affordable,” Ikpamezie lamented.
The sensitization by the Ministries of Health, Environment, Information, the Imo State Consumers Protection Council, and National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) in collaboration, he said, is very essential as it will ones again remind the people of the dangers of using those expired, fake products especially the edible one.
As there was no one against the motion, the Speaker, Chike Olemgbe put it to vote, and the Ayes had it.
The Speaker further directed the Clerk of the House to disseminate the resolution of the House to the appropriate quarters.
