By Sarah Ezeh
The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has sealed two soya milk production facilities in Awada-Obosi, Onitsha, Anambra State, over alleged food safety violations.
This followed the discovery of unhygienic production practices that posed a risk to public health.
The FCCPC Southeast Zonal Coordinator, Engr. Francisca Obialor, disclosed this during an enforcement operation, saying the affected factories failed to meet the minimum food safety and consumer protection standards required for the production of consumable products.
According to her, inspectors found that the operators were collecting discarded plastic bottles from the streets, washing them with untreated water and reusing them to package soya milk under unsanitary conditions.
Obialor said the inspection further revealed the absence of basic food safety measures, including the use of personal protective equipment, proper hygiene protocols, water treatment systems, quality control procedures and laboratory testing of finished products before distribution.
She described the practices as unacceptable and a serious threat to public health.
The zonal coordinator said the Commission had earlier inspected the facilities and directed the operators to suspend production and report to the FCCPC office in Awka for guidance on regulatory compliance.
However, the operators allegedly ignored the directive and continued production, prompting the enforcement action.
She explained that the operation was carried out in accordance with the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act, particularly Section 18(f), which empowers the Commission to seal premises engaged in the production or sale of hazardous and unwholesome goods.
According to Obialor, the affected factories will remain sealed until they fully comply with all food safety and regulatory requirements.
She also confirmed that one of the factory operators had been taken in for questioning as investigations continue, adding that the producers would be required to implement corrective measures and undergo fresh inspections before the facilities could be reopened.
Obialor urged food manufacturers to adhere strictly to good manufacturing practices by maintaining hygienic production environments and establishing effective quality assurance systems to ensure that products released into the market are safe for consumers.
She identified inadequate security support as the major challenge encountered during the enforcement exercise but noted that the Commission had sufficient operational personnel to carry out its mandate.
The FCCPC official further disclosed that preliminary investigations indicate similar food safety violations are more prevalent in neighbouring Abia State, followed by Anambra, while fewer cases have been recorded in other states across the South-East.
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