The Food and Drug Authority ( FDA) has entreated the general public to be extra careful of how they handle food items bought from the market.

According to the FDA, many are at risk of bringing the coronavirus from affected persons at the market if precautionary measures are not put in place as early as possible.

Chief Regulatory Officer, Food Enforcement Department at the FDA Mrs Maria Aba Lovelace-Johnson said this in an an interview Monday.

She urged the general public to ensure that food items such as tomatoes, garden eggs and many other commodities are washed outside before they are sent inside the kitchen.

She said though the virus may not be visible on people and items, the citizens must note that everyone is a potential carrier of the virus.

“The virus can fall on anything, for this reason, everyone must ensure food items such as vegetables and fruits are washed outside before taking them to the room from the market. If you can, do not take the rubbers you brought from market into your rooms without washing them. Also try to wash canned items with soap and water immediately you get them from outside. Everyone is a potential carrier so is everything a potential carrier to your homes,” she said.

Touching on the hike on food prices, Mrs Lovelace-Johnson called on the Ministry of Food and Agriculture and the Ministry of Trade and Industries to put in some interventions to boost local production.

“ I think it will best if these sectors will have some interventions put in place ahead of time” she noted.

She complimented the president for the balanced interventions putting in place for all classes of society during this lockdown. “Yes, the president has done well for having the less privileged at heart in the face of all these challenges” she noted.

Touching on storage she encouraged all to ensure foods are stored with low water content to prevent contact with micro-organisms.

With preservation she explained the best way to store and preserve food is to “make sure you do not, just mix fresh items with cooked foods. For example, fresh fish or meat shouldn’t be kept at where foods such as bread, vegetables, and fruits. These foods must be separated to prevent any health complications”

Touching on imported and manufactured gloves and nose mask, she assured the public that all gloves and nose are inspected and tested to ensure they are safe before it gets to the market.