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Use of rubber and cement as food preservatives unsafe — CSIR-CRI, FDA warn
Two major agencies in the line of food safety and regulations, the Crops Research Institute of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR-CRI) and the Food and Drug Authority (FDA), have sounded the alarm bells, announcing intentions to crack the whip on individuals whose activities endanger the lives of local food consumers.
The CSIR-CRI and FDA have been forced to issue separate statements to caution Ghanaians to be careful with what they consume on the market.
This follows reports and videos circulating on social media about quack process being used by farmers and food vendors to make their products attractive to customers but with the potential to pose health problems.
This is directly in line with a disturbing video circulating on social media showing people using cement powder as a preservative for cowpea as well as the deliberate melting of plastic in frying oil to fry plantain chips to make it crispy.
This practice, according to the two agencies constitutes direct chemical contamination of food and renders it unsafe for human consumption.
According to the CSIR-CRI statement, the practice of using cement powder as a preservative was ‘highly unsafe and unscientific,’ and outrightly condemned the practice, warning that it poses serious health risks to consumers and undermines Ghana’s food safety efforts.
The viral clip, which has unsettled farmers and traders across the Ashanti region and beyond, shows beans being mixed with cement powder in what is claimed to be a preservation method against storage pests.
But, CSIR-CRI insists the practice was dangerous.
“Cement is not a food substance and is not approved for use in food or grain preservation under any circumstance,” said Prof. Maxwell D. Asante, Director of CSIR-CRI, in a strongly worded statement.
Food safety experts fear that desperate farmers, misled by the video, could adopt the method and inadvertently poison households.
“This is not just a matter of poor practice—it is a matter of public health… We cannot allow misinformation to compromise the integrity of our food systems”, the statement indicated.
The statement urged farmers to rely on scientifically validated storage methods, including hermetic bags, approved fumigants, and traditional protectants such as neem seed powder and wood ash.
It emphasised that safe drying, clean storage facilities, and integrated pest management remain the cornerstones of cowpea preservation. “We are committed to promoting evidence-based, internationally accepted post-harvest handling practices,” it stated.
The warning comes at a time when cowpea, a staple protein source for millions of Ghanaians, faces persistent threats from bruchid beetles and other storage pests.
Farmers often struggle to balance affordability with safety in storage techniques, making them vulnerable to adopting shortcuts promoted on social media.
The statement also carried a broader message: not all information shared online is authentic, calling on the public to verify agricultural practices with extension officers or credible research institutions before adoption.
“We must protect both our efforts to improve food security, the Institute’s stance underscores the need for vigilance against unsafe practices. For now, the message is clear: cement belongs to construction sites, not in food stores.
Furthermore, the FDA’s statement specifically addressed recent allegation of using ‘rubber’ in the preparation of plantain chips, an action that poses serious health risks to consumers and violates established food safety regulations.
The authority said it had taken note of reports suggesting that some vendors were melting polyethylene, a type of plastic material, in hot oil while frying plantain chips to enhance crispiness and extend the shelf life of the snack.
It explained that plastics such as polyethylene were not food-grade substances and may release harmful chemicals when exposed to high temperatures.
It explained that heating plastic materials could lead to the release of chemical compounds including plasticisers and other additives, which may contaminate the oil and eventually the food being prepared.
The FDA cautioned that prolonged consumption of foods contaminated with such chemicals could lead to adverse health effects, including hormonal disruption and other long-term health complications.
As a result, the authority highlighted that it had begun investigations and intensified market surveillance to ascertain the authenticity of the claims.
Samples of plantain chips from various parts of the country, the FDA noted, would be subjected to laboratory analysis to determine whether plastic materials had been used during their preparation.
According to the two agencies, the use of non-food-grade substances in food preparation or preservation was an offence under the Public Health Act, 2012 (Act 851), warning that any individual or food vendor found culpable would face sanctions including prosecution.
They urged food vendors and processors to adhere strictly to approved food preparation standards and avoid practices that could endanger public health.
Consumers were also encouraged to remain vigilant and report any suspicious food handling practices to the authority, reiterating their commitment to safeguarding public health and ensuring that all food products or farm produce on the market were safe for consumption by all.
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By Kingsley E. Hope & Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu
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WOMEN in Sustainability Africa (WiSA) successfully held the African Women’s Health and Wealth Conference (AWoHW) with a call for research and investment into women’s healthcare.
It also called for robust financial systems and encouraged women to generate wealth as well as prioritise their health.
The conference held at the Shippers House in Accra on March 5, was on the theme: ‘Championing Inclusive healthcare and finance systems for African women and girls.’
Speaking on behalf of Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, the Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Sabia Kpekata, Programme Officer at the Ministry, said financial inclusion remains one of the most critical pathways to women’s empowerment and achieving sustainable development.
According to the minister, it is for this reason that the government continues to support initiatives that expand access to affordable credit, strengthen women-led enterprises and build financial literacy.
“Women must sit at the policy table where budgets are approved, health priorities are set, and economic policies are designed. This is why the ministry calls on all stakeholders to push for the effective implementation of the Affirmative Act,”
• Sabia Kpekata addressing the gathering
she stated.
Addressing the gathering, the Deputy Chief of Staff, Nana Oye Bampoe Addo, noted that many women suffer from mental health issues as a result of health financing, adding that, “this is why President Mahama has initiated the Accra Reset to tackle issues relating to women.”
On her part, the convener, Nana Yaa Serwaa Sarpong, explained that, “Today is not just a conference – It is a declaration. It is a declaration that African women and girls will no longer stand at the margins of systems that determine their health, their wealth, and their future.”
According to her, it is a declaration that sustainability is not a slogan for them, rather, it is a strategy, a commitment and a promise.
The Chief Executive Officer of GoldBod Jewellery, Getrude Emefa Donkor, said saving alone cannot make one financially sound, adding that investing and having other sources of income was the best way to go.
WiSA is a Coordinating Pan-African Organisation that works with other CSOs, NGOs, Corporate Institutions, local and international development organisations and individuals to bring all women, men, young people and women groups together to foster the achievement of the SDGs across Africa
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
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The African Women Leaders Network (AWLN) Ghana Chapter has called for stronger action to protect the rights of women and girls and promote gender equality in the country.
The call was made in a statement issued in Accra to mark International Women’s Day 2026, celebrated globally under the theme “Rights. Justice. Action. For ALL Women and Girls.”
Signed by its Chairperson, Dr Charity Binka, the statement said although progress had been made in advancing gender equality, many women and girls still faced barriers that limited their full participation in society.
It said the theme for this year’s celebration served as both a moment of reflection and a call to action for stakeholders to intensify efforts to protect the rights of women and girls.
The Network noted that Ghana had taken important steps toward gender equality, including the passage of the Affirmative Action (Gender Equity) Act aimed at increasing women’s representation and participation in decision-making.
However, the network stressed that legislation alone was not enough and called for effective implementation, public awareness and institutional accountability to ensure the law translated into real opportunities for women and girls.
It, therefore urged the full implementation of the Affirmative Action Act to increase women’s representation in governance, leadership and public life.
It called for stronger access to justice for women and girls, including protection against gender-based violence and discrimination.
The network further advocated greater investment in girls’ education, digital inclusion and economic empowerment programmes for women, particularly through support for women entrepreneurs and improved access to finance.
Meanwhile, the President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Albert Dwumfour, has paid tribute to women in the media for their dedication and professionalism.
In a message to commemorate the International Women’s Day, he commended women journalists and communication professionals for their courage in amplifying voices, telling important stories and shaping public discourse.
“To every women in journalism and the communication profession, thank you for the courage, professionalism and dedication you bring to informing our society,” he said.
Mr Dwumfour added that the contributions of women journalists continued to inspire the next generation and strengthen the media for women and girls in society, calling for sustained efforts to promote equality, respect and opportunities for women and girls in society.
By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu
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