Editorial
Use of rubber, cement as food preservatives unsafe – CSIR, FDA cautions
A story titled “Use of rubber, cement as food preservatives unsafe – CSIR, FDA cautions” appeared in The Spectator on March 14, 2026. It illustrated the negative consequences of utilising dangerous materials to preserve food.
This came after videos and reports went viral on social media about farmers and food vendors using quack methods to make their goods appealing to consumers but potentially harmful to their health.
The unsettling video that went viral on social media showed individuals purposefully melting plastic in frying oil to make plantain chips crispy and using cement powder as a cowpea preservative.
The Food and Drug Authority (FDA) and the Crops Research Institute of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR-CRI), two significant organisations in the field of food safety, denounced the practice, raised the alarm, and declared their desire to punish those whose actions jeopardise the lives of local food consumers.
The agencies claim that the procedures directly contaminate food with chemicals, making it unfit for human consumption. Because food safety poses a threat to human health, it merits significant attention. These organisations were compelled to issue separate statements warning Ghanaians to exercise caution when consuming products from the market.
“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. People who are obsessed with money will do anything to further their own interests, regardless of the consequences to the public’s health.
The high prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in the country is probably caused by hazardous chemicals and food additives used for preservation. Sadly, long-term intake of foods tainted with these chemicals may have negative health impacts, such as hormonal disruption and other long-term health issues, as the FDA warned.
Food safety is in a worse state than anyone could have imagined. It is worrying that practically every food consumed nowadays contains hazardous substances.
The Spectator applauds the FDA for starting investigations and stepping up market monitoring to verify the veracity of the claims. The Ghana Health Service (GHS), the CSIR, and the FDA are being urged by The Spectator to collaborate in educating the public and food and beverage sellers on the risks that hazardous chemicals and food additives pose to internal organs and health.
In accordance with the regulatory bodies’ declaration, farmers are urged to use scientifically proven storage techniques, such as hermetic bags, permitted fumigants, and conventional protectants like wood ash and neem seed powder.
The public should exercise caution when making purchases at the market to ensure food safety.
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Dear Editor,
I AM writing to draw your attention to the inadequate street lights in some parts of Wawase, a situation that continues to pose serious concerns for residents.
Street lights play a crucial role in ensuring safety and security within a community. Unfortunately, several areas in Wawase are completely without functioning street lights.
This has made movement at night very difficult and dangerous, especially for workers, students, and traders who return home late.
The lack of proper lighting has also created an enabling environment for criminal activities such as theft and harassment. Residents often live in fear, and some are forced to limit their movements after dark. Additionally, poor visibility increases the risk of road accidents, putting both pedestrians and drivers at risk.
It is concerning that despite the growing population and development in Wawase, this basic infrastructure issue remains unresolved.
I would like to appeal to the relevant authorities, including the local assembly and electricity providers, to urgently address this problem by installing new street lights and repairing faulty ones.
Ensuring adequate street lights will not only improve security but also enhance the overall quality of life for residents in the area.
Gwen Mensah, Agona Swedru
Dear Editor,
FOR some time now, I have been deeply concerned about the state of the Kaneshie footbridge, which has over the years developed cracks, exposing some rusted metal parts and raising safety concerns.
It is, therefore, welcome news for daily users of the facility like myself that a team from the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), led by the Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCE), visited the facility and announced a temporary closure to allow for maintenance work to be carried out.
While I wish to commend the Assembly for the move, I believe it has been long overdue.
I often find it difficult to understand why, as a country, we sit, wait, and watch for preventable incidents or tragedies to happen before we react. I say this because the issue of the bad state of the Kaneshie footbridge has been one that has been re-echoed by many who use it on a daily basis.
I believe that as the Assembly looks to start the maintenance works on the footbridge, it is also important for it and other Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to pay attention to other footbridges across the country that are in a similar state.
The time has come for Ghana, as a country, to be more proactive than reactive.
I will also urge the assemblies to deploy their respective teams to always check on footbridges across the country to ensure that they are in good shape to avoid any tragedy that could lead to the loss of human lives.
From Fafa, Kaneshie
