The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has initiated a sweeping nationwide investigation into disturbing allegations that some street food vendors are melting polyethene plastic into hot cooking oil while frying plantain chips, a practice experts say could pose severe and long-term health risks to consumers.
The alarming claims surfaced after a widely circulated video on social media appeared to show individuals adding plastic material to frying oil to make plantain chips crispier and prolong their shelf life. The footage sparked widespread public concern and prompted the FDA to begin urgent market surveillance and laboratory testing to determine the authenticity of the reports.
In a strongly worded statement issued on 11 March 2026, the Chief Executive Officer of the authority confirmed that inspectors have been deployed to markets and food processing points across the country. Samples of plantain chips are also being collected for detailed scientific analysis at accredited laboratories.
According to the regulator, the intentional melting of plastic into cooking oil constitutes a serious form of chemical contamination.
“The deliberate melting of plastic in frying oil is a direct chemical contamination of food, rendering it unsafe and unwholesome for human consumption,” the authority said.
Health dangers of plastic contamination
Food safety experts warn that the use of Low-Density Polyethene (LDPE) in cooking oil can release hazardous chemical compounds when exposed to high temperatures. These substances may migrate from the melted plastic into the food being prepared.
The FDA explained that such plastics can release additives including phthalates, plasticisers and antioxidants, which are not intended for human consumption. Scientific studies have linked prolonged exposure to these chemicals to serious health concerns, including hormonal disruption, endocrine system disorders and a heightened risk of certain cancers.
Public health specialists also caution that ingesting plastic-contaminated food over time could lead to gradual toxic accumulation in the body, potentially causing long-term damage to vital organs.
Legal consequences for offenders
The authority has issued a stern warning to food vendors, stressing that the preparation or sale of contaminated food is a punishable offence under Public Health Act, 2012 (Act 851).
Under Section 100 of the law, individuals who sell food deemed unsafe or unwholesome may face criminal prosecution. The FDA indicated that any vendor found deliberately using non-food-grade additives—including plastic materials—in food preparation could face severe sanctions.
These penalties may include prosecution, seizure of products, and the permanent closure of their food businesses.
Advice to consumers
While the investigation is ongoing, the FDA has urged members of the public to remain vigilant when purchasing ready-to-eat snacks such as plantain chips.
Consumers are encouraged to avoid products that exhibit unusual characteristics, including:
strong chemical or synthetic odours
a plastic-like aftertaste
abnormal or excessively hard texture
Such signs, the authority says, may indicate potential contamination.
Joint monitoring efforts
The FDA also assured the public that it is collaborating closely with the Ghana Police Service, municipal authorities and market regulators to intensify monitoring of food vendors and processing sites.
Food processors and street vendors have been reminded to strictly adhere to approved food safety standards, including Good Manufacturing Practices and proper hygiene procedures. They must also obtain the required FDA Food Hygiene and Vendor Permit before operating.
The regulator emphasized that ensuring the safety and quality of food products sold in the country remains a top priority.
The authority said laboratory analysis of collected samples is currently underway, and the public will be informed once the results become available.
Meanwhile, citizens have been encouraged to report any suspicious food preparation practices through the FDA’s official reporting channels to help safeguard public health.
Story by Freedom Etsey Lavoe/Ahotoronline.com