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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.
If you want, I can format it into a clean newspaper-style layout with headings and paragraph
By Kingsley E. Hope & Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu
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Ahyiresu and Abofrem, two quiet communities in the Atwima Mponua District, have been shaken to the core by a chilling midnight drama that reads like a nightmare.
A pastor and a young mother stand accused of attempting to bury a five‑month‑old baby girl alive, a crime that has ignited outrage and disbelief across the township.
According to police, Apostle Richmond Akwasi Frimpong, 36, Head Pastor of the Anointed Grace Prayer Ministry at Kuffour Camp, conspired with his uncle Emmanuel Appiah, 53, and the child’s mother, 23‑year‑old Beatrice Agyapomaa, to dispose of the infant, Anaya Achiaa, under the cover of darkness.
A fourth suspect, Emmanuel Donkor, remains on the run.
The suspects were caught near a refuse dump around 10 pm on April 9, 2026, after a vigilant resident, Akwasi Twezor, noticed their suspicious movements.
When confronted, they claimed the child was already dead and had palace approval for burial. But Twezor’s instincts proved right—the baby was still alive, gasping faintly for breath.
Chief Linguist, Nana Yaw Badu, later confirmed that Frimpong had misled him earlier in the evening, securing permission for burial by falsely declaring the child dead.
The infant was rushed to the Abofrem Clinic, where she is now responding well to treatment. Police described her as “very beautiful.”
Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Evelyn Yitamkey, Commander of DOVVSU in Bibiani, confirmed that the suspects have been provisionally charged.
Frimpong faces attempted murder and conspiracy charges, while Agyapomaa and Appiah are charged with conspiracy and abetment.
They were remanded by the Bibiani Circuit Court, presided over by Judge Frank Asiedu Nimako, to assist investigations.
The docket has been forwarded to the Attorney General’s Department for advice, ASP Yitamkey indicated.
The attempted crime has provoked fury among residents, many suspecting ritual motives aimed at bolstering the pastor’s influence.
Crowds attempted to attack the suspects outside court, but police intervention prevented mob justice.
The Assembly Member for Ahyiresu, Yusuf Suleiman, has assured residents that justice will be pursued swiftly.
From Kingsley E. Hope, Kumasi
The forecourt of the African University of Communications and Business (AUCB) in Accra came alive on Friday with colour, creativity and innovation, as Level 300 students transformed the space into a lively exhibition of ideas.
Under the theme “Building meaningful brands beyond the logo,” the students invited patrons into a world where ordinary products were reimagined through storytelling, design and purpose.
From scented candles to innovative food concepts, each stand told a unique story, one that went beyond aesthetics to capture identity, value and human connection.
For many of the students, the event was more than just an academic exercise; it was a moment to dream out loud.
Guided by their lecturer, Peter Wonders, they explored what it truly means to build a brand in today’s competitive world where trust, consistency and experience matter just as much as logos and slogans.
Chairman of the occasion, Nana Kum Gyata VI, in his remarks said a brand is what people say about you when you are not present.
At the end of the presentations, awards were presented to deserving groups with Vida Nyaneba emerging as the overall best branding student.
By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu
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