The Yellow Sisi Waakye food poisoning event at Oyibi, in Greater Accra, is believed to have sickened 53 people in total.
53 people who consumed waakye, or basic rice and tomato stew, from a vendor known as Yellow Sisi in Bush Canteen, an Oyibi neighborhood, experienced symptoms of food poisoning, according to a joint investigation by the Ghana Health Service (GHS) and the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA).
The FDA reported that it was notified of the possible food poisoning outbreak on Sunday, January 22, 2023, through its Food Safety Alert System in a statement dated January 27, 2023, and released on Friday night. According to reports, the incident happened near Oyibi in the Greater Accra Region’s Adenta Municipality.
In response to the event, the FDA promptly launched a joint investigation with the Ghana Health Service in accordance with its food safety emergency response plan (GHS).
bad food handling procedures
“At this time, one death has been reported, but the cause of death is yet to be confirmed,” the FDA noted.
“An environmental assessment of the food preparation site located at Malejor and the three vending sites at Bush Canteen, Prison Joint, and Sharp Curve Joint revealed poor food handling practices that may have led to the contamination of the food and the outbreak of food poisoning.”
FDA halts Yellow Sisi business operations
The FDA declared that it has halted Yellow Sisi’s operations until steps have been taken to assure compliance and stop further instances.
After consuming the food on Friday, January 20, 2023, the victims, including Yellow Sisi and some of her family members, reportedly complained of severe stomach ache and were brought to Valley View Hospital, Oyibi Hospital, Dodowa Hospital, and other medical facilities. According to Graphic Online, the event resulted in the deaths of a pregnant mother and a lotto dealer.
At Oyibi Bush Canteen, Yellow Sisi Waakye was regarded as one of the most well-liked eateries. The restaurant was closed and locked on Thursday when the Daily Graphic team went to check it out.
Several nearby businesses were also shut down since it’s thought that the proprietors of those businesses, who had also eaten the meal and became unwell, were receiving medical attention at the hospital.
A number of patients were transported to the hospital in critical condition, according to Valley View Hospital officials who confirmed the occurrence when the Daily Graphic followed up with them for confirmation. Nevertheless, “as of today, all the patients have been discharged,” an official stated.
The Kpone Katamanso District Hospital has received the hospital’s data for additional analysis to identify the reason of the issue, according to Valley View Hospital administrators who were unable to provide details on the number of persons affected.
The incidence was confirmed by district hospital officials, who added that additional medical tests were being done to ascertain whether or not the patients had food poisoning or something else.
Justice Ankomah, who identified himself as one of the victims, said that he afterwards experienced stomach ache and diarrhea but did not think it was a “big concern” and sought medication to treat himself.
He continued by saying that three other neighborhood business owners who also consumed the waakye fell quite ill, were hospitalized, and haven’t been able to open their stores since last Friday.