By Ragan M. Conteh
Traders in Freetown have raised concerns about the production and sale of substandard Fambul in the country. They say the Fambul Oil can cause health problems to thousands of Sierra Leoneans who consume it.
A trader at Dove Cot, Mariatu Mansaray explains to Nightwatch how she disposed of Fambul oil that would have derailed her health and her family members had she consumed it.
“I bought Fambul oil once, but when I found out that it is not suitable for human consumption, the next day I decide to throw it away in order not to allow others to see it,” she said.
“The oil is tasteless and full of particles and above all, it has a colour that is quite different from the oil of other companies we buy,” Mariatu emphasised.
She also expressed fear for those in the provinces who, she says, are clueless about the health hazards of the oil.
“They do not want to know whether the Fambul oil is good or not, they are just eating. It’s too sad,” Madam Mansaray said.
At the Bombay Market, Ya Kadiatu Kamara a customer of the Fambul Oil Company calls on owners of the institution to live up to standards.
Madam Kamara says the company before this time used to produce the oil in white five gallons noting that now it produces the oil in yellow rubbers to deceive customers.
A business man at Ferry Junction in Freetown Pa Foday Samura is less satisfied with the taste of Fambul oil.
He made it clear that foreigners in Sierra Leone are always caught up with allegations of producing food stuff that is not safe for human consumption.
“If you check closely, one would notice that most of these producers are not consuming the foo they produce,” Pa Kamara claimed.
“How can you produce cooking oil without going through the standards set by the Standards Bureau that is responsible to certify food-producing companies in the country,” he wonders.
Pa Foday continued that Fambul Oil should be thoroughly investigated by Standards Bureau to ascertain the level of suitability of their product.
Effort to reach the manager of the company to respond to the allegations proved futile.
The saga about the non-suitability of Fambul Oil has reached parliament who recently took position on the scandal.
The Oversight Committee on Water Resources chaired by Hon. Lahai Marah representing Constituency 042 in Koinadugu District has recently warned 167 Water and other food producing companies including Fambul Oil to adhere to Standards set by Standards Bureau.
Hon. Marah made it clear that a good number of food and water Companies do not go through registration procedures set up by Standards Bureau and Electricity and Water Regulatory Commission.
He threatens to shut down those companies that are not willing to comply with the rules.
“The committee will close down substandard food producing companies that are not in compliance with the Standards Bureau and the Electricity and Water Regulatory Commission,” he warns.
Most of these food companies, he says, sell water and other food stuff this is hazardous to the public noting that only a few meets the threshold.
“Out of 167 food and Water Companies, only 15 companies are legally registered and pass the test,” he said.
“Only 15 companies out of 167 that have certificates of Analysis, Justness and Standards SLS 21, SLS 22 and SLS 28 which are indicators of clean food fit for human consumption,” Hon Marrah pointed out.
These standards, he goes on, are mandatory for all water and food companies operating in Sierra Leone and that defaulting companies would soon face the law.