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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