FDA investigates plastic use in frying plantain chips
The caution follows reports circulating online that some sellers may be using polyethene during frying to make the snack crunchier and keep it fresh for longer.
Plantain chip vendors found mixing plastic with frying oil could face prosecution and permanent closure of their businesses, Ghana’s Food and Drugs Authority has warned.
The caution follows reports circulating online that some sellers may be using polyethene during frying to make the snack crunchier and keep it fresh for longer.
In response, the FDA says it has moved beyond the online claims and started a nationwide investigation, combining market checks with laboratory testing of samples collected from vendors.
The authority said the alleged practice would amount to food contamination because melting plastic into hot oil can release harmful chemicals directly into what consumers eat.
Among the substances of concern, it said, are compounds associated with low-density polyethene, including additives that may migrate into food during heating. According to the FDA, repeated exposure to such chemicals has been linked to hormone-related disorders, endocrine disruption and a greater risk of some cancers.
The regulator said consumers should be alert to warning signs when buying plantain chips, especially products with a strange chemical smell, an unusual aftertaste resembling plastic, or an abnormal texture.
In its statement dated 11 March 2026, the authority stressed that the sale of contaminated or unsafe food is an offence under the Public Health Act, 2012.
It said any trader caught using plastic or any other non-food-grade substance in food preparation would face legal action.
The FDA added that it is working with the police and local authorities as surveillance continues across the country.
It also reminded food vendors and processors that they are expected to comply with good manufacturing standards and obtain the required food hygiene and vendor permits.
The authority says further updates will be issued after laboratory analysis is completed, and it has asked the public to report any suspicious food handling practices through its official channels.
