By Samira Larbie
Accra, Sept. 4, GNA – The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has ordered the recall of Arcan Bitters after laboratory analysis detected undeclared Sildenafil Citrate in the alcoholic beverage.
The FDA also ordered the closure of the manufacturing facility of Unni Associates Company Limited at Parkoso in the Asokore Mampong Municipality of the Ashanti Region.
A statement issued by the FDA and copied to the Ghana News Agency said the company had 14 days to recall all Arcan Bitters products from the market, with the Authority to supervise their safe disposal.
It warned that failure to comply with the directive could result in further regulatory sanctions, including criminal prosecution.
The analysis found Sildenafil Citrate, a Phosphodiesterase Type 5 (PDE5) inhibitor, in Arcan Bitters, which is labelled as containing 35 per cent alcohol by volume.
Sildenafil Citrate is a prescription-only medicine used to treat erectile dysfunction in men and pulmonary arterial hypertension.
The FDA said the substance was undeclared and should not be present in Arcan Bitters, which was registered with the Authority as a food product, specifically an alcoholic drink.
“The presence of Sildenafil Citrate in a food product poses serious health and safety risks to the public,” it said.
The Authority explained that Sildenafil Citrate could interact with other medicines and cause a sudden drop in blood pressure, potentially resulting in serious complications such as stroke and heart attack.
It further warned that the substance could cause other long-term health problems, including loss of vision and hearing.
The FDA said the adulteration of food products constituted an offence under Section 100 (3) of the Public Health Act, 2012 (Act 851), which prohibited the manufacture, advertising or offering for sale of adulterated products.
It also said it was an offence to manufacture, label, package, sell or advertise a food product in a manner that was false, misleading or deceptive regarding its character, nature, value, additives, quality, substance or composition.
The FDA advised the public to refrain from purchasing or consuming Arcan Bitters.
It directed retailers and distributors to comply with the recall and report persons offering the product for sale to the nearest FDA offices to facilitate its complete removal from the market.
The Authority urged the public to report unhygienic practices and other activities that could compromise public health and safety.
GNA
Edited by Kenneth Sackey
4 Sept. 2026
Reporter: Samira Larbie
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