The Kirkos Branch Office of th...

The Kirkos Branch Office of the Addis Ababa Food and Medicine Authority has disposed of spoiled and expired products—valued at over 4 million Birr—to safeguard public health.
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October 23, 2019 (Tikimt 13, 2019 E.C.)

During the first quarter of the current fiscal year, the Kirkos Branch Office of the Addis Ababa Food and Medicine Authority took measures to protect public health by ensuring the removal of spoiled and expired food and beverage products—with an estimated value of 4,994,939.24 Birr—before they could be consumed by the public.

Key activities prioritized by the office during this quarter include:

• Providing training on food safety and hygiene to mothers involved in school feeding programs and to food inspection professionals.

• Ensuring the removal of spoiled and expired food and beverage products before they reach the public.

• Strengthening the health inspection forum to enhance public participation and the system for reporting concerns. The Office Manager, Sr. Alemnesh Abay, explained that the office has incorporated several key focus areas into its 90-day operational plan. These include conducting frequent and adequate inspections of shops; following up on concerns raised regarding the sale of food items in *injera* shops; strengthening tobacco control; intensifying the regulation of street-vended fast foods—specifically potato chips; and enhancing public participation to ensure the timely removal of food and beverage products that have been exposed to the sun and could pose health risks.