Accra, March 11, GNA – The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has launched a nationwide investigation into allegations that some vendors are using polyethylene (plastic) in the frying of plantain chips to increase its crispiness and extend its shelf life.
This follows videos and reports circulating on social media suggesting that certain processors deliberately melted plastic into frying oil during production.
The FDA, in a statement copied to the Ghana News Agency in Accra, said the Authority had begun market surveillance and laboratory testing of plantain chips across the country to determine the authenticity of the claims and ensure consumer safety.
“For the records, deliberate melting of plastic in frying oil is a direct chemical contamination of food, making it unwholesome for human consumption,” the statement said.
It said introducing plastic materials, particularly Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE), into hot oil posed serious public health risks, explaining that high temperatures accelerate the release of chemical substances from plastics into food.
“Hot oil accelerates the leaching of plasticizers, phthalates and antioxidants from the plastic into the food,” it said.
The FDA also warned that long-term exposure to such chemicals may lead to serious health complications, noting that scientific research indicated that long-term ingestion of those migrated chemicals was linked to endocrine disruption, hormonal imbalances and increased risks of certain cancers.
The regulator cautioned food vendors that using non-food-grade materials in food preparation constituted a criminal offence under the Public Health Act, 2012 (Act 851).
“Any person found engaging in this practice will face the full rigours of the law, including prosecution and permanent closure of their business,” the FDA warned.
While advising consumers to remain vigilant when purchasing plantain chips, the Authority also urged the public to avoid products that emit strong chemical odours, had a plastic-like aftertaste, or maintained an unusually unchanged texture over time.
The FDA assured the public that it was collaborating with local authorities and the Ghana Police Service to monitor the activities of vendors suspected of engaging in unsafe food processing practices.
It said it would release the results of ongoing laboratory tests once investigations were completed and urged the public to report any suspicious food preparation practices through its official communication channels.
It also encouraged food processors to adhere strictly to Good Manufacturing Practices and obtain the necessary FDA food hygiene and vendor permits to maintain standards.
GNA
Edited by Agnes Boye-Doe