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The Food and Drugs Authority has launched nationwide market surveillance and laboratory testing following allegations that some vendors are using melted plastic while frying plantain chips to enhance their crispiness and shelf life.
The action follows videos and reports circulating on social media suggesting that polythene materials are being added to hot cooking oil during the preparation of the popular snack, raising serious food safety concerns.
In a statement, the authority described the alleged practice as dangerous, warning that melting plastic in frying oil constitutes direct chemical contamination of food and makes the product unsafe for human consumption.
According to the FDA, heating plastic materials such as low-density polyethylene in hot oil can cause harmful chemical substances to migrate into the food.
The authority explained that the process accelerates the release of plasticisers, phthalates and antioxidants from the plastic into the oil, creating potential toxicological risks for consumers.
Scientific research, the FDA noted, links long-term ingestion of these chemicals to endocrine disruption, hormonal imbalances and an increased risk of certain cancers.
The FDA also cited Section 100 of the Public Health Act, 2012 (Act 851), which prohibits the sale of unwholesome or contaminated food products.
“Any person found engaging in this practice will face the full rigours of the law, including prosecution and permanent closure of their business,” the statement warned.
The authority says it will continue investigations and conduct laboratory tests to confirm whether the alleged practice is occurring in the market.
