The management of Center Of Awareness (COA) has countered the claims that COA food supplement has been approved as a cure for the novel coronavirus by the Centre for Scientific Research into Plant Medicine (CSRPM).
The company in a statement admitted that COA FS was part of the herbal products submitted to the CSRPM in Akuapem Mampong for evaluation towards the management of Covid-19 however, it is not denying that the immune booster could be contaminated as asserted by the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA).
The press release signed by its Client Relations Officer, Deladem Kisseih reads,
“COA Herbal Center further dissociates itself from leaked reports suggesting that independent tests conducted on COA FS Food supplement confirm that the product is not contaminated.”
According to the release, the center seeks to clarify that they have no hand in the continuous publications of COA FS as the cure for coronavirus.
“The report on the independent test, which was conducted by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), has been extensively reported by some media houses and online portals, creating the erroneous impression that COA Herbal Center is influencing such a media campaign,” it added.
FDA recall of COA FS
Sometime in April this year, the FDA instructed a withdrawal of some batches of COA FS over contamination.
The FDA in a statement, indicated that herbal drugs contained Escherichia coli, a type of bacteria that normally lives in the intestines.
According to the FDA the said E Coli as it is popularly known, causes gastroenteritis, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting.
The bacteria also causes serious health implications when exposed to children and adults, some of which could lead to a kidney failure.
COA FS emphasized that it is strictly adhering to the FDA’s directives and has stopped production.
“We wish to state that COA Herbal Center, acting upon the directive of the FDA has since ceased production, recalled our products from the market, and submitted the same to the FDA which was safely disposed of on the 22nd of May, 2020,” it added.
COA FS press release
It noted that “the leaked test results from the Food Research Institute, which is under the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) is one of the results of the numerous trial samples sent to the institute and the Centre for Plant Medicine Research for analysis, to try our lines after major renovations.”
“We, therefore, want to state unequivocally that, we are not behind such publications and as a genuine organization, which cherishes the rule of law, we would not do anything that will undermine the authority and power of the FDA.”
“Indeed, a meeting with stakeholders and government will be held this week to deliberate on the recommendation by the Center for Plant Medicine Research and the way forward.”
“The question is, why would COA FS engineer such publications to preempt Tuesday’s meeting? This media campaign is the handiwork of some diabolic minds who don’t wish COA FS well.”
“It must, therefore, be on record that COA Herbal Center is strictly complying with directives by the Food and Drug Authority (FDA). We have recalled all the specific batch numbers from the market as directed by the FDA.”
“Furthermore and more importantly, the company has embarked on several steps to ensure that its manufacturing site in Cape Coast conforms to the best hygienic practices in the world.”
“The production site in the Central Region has seen some major facelifts that will ensure that COA FS products are produced under strict hygienic conditions which conform to international best practices,” the release said.
“We want to state that, COA Herbal Center is committed to delivering quality, effective, efficient, and efficacious product to consumers and will, therefore, comply with all directives by the FDA.”
“Currently, the product is off the market.
We, therefore, urge the general public to disregard the current media publications regarding the tests and wait patiently for the FDA’s final report, which is recognized by law,” it added.
