The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has cautioned market women to stay away from unauthorised use of chemicals to accelerate ripening of plantain.
According to the FDA, following a recent survey at the Madina market, it discovered that some of the market women were using Ethemax, to accelerate the ripening of plantain for sale to the public.
Reacting to concerns about public health following a recent video in which some market women in Madina were seen discussing how some of their colleagues were using the chemical, the FDA said it has initiated moves to train traders on proper dosage.
In a radio interview monitored by Graphic Online on Accra based Citi FM on Tuesday, a Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the FDA in charge Food Division, Roderick Daddey-Adjei said the authority was rather educating the market women on proper use instead of a total ban.
He explained that the chemical is a synthetic version of ethylene, the gas naturally produced by fruit as it ripens.
"It is used when you follow the proper agricultural instructions.., it is safe for use," he said. "But if it is not mixed properly, you could get high doses of it."
He said the danger lies specifically in incorrect mixing or overuse, not in the chemical itself.
Improper use, he said, can affect the nervous system and cause nausea and stomach cramps.
He noted that some Ghanaian food exports have previously been returned due to excessive use of the same chemical.
In a press statement issued on Monday (August 17, 2026), the FDA said following the public concerns, it conducted a survey at the Madina market and found out that the specific product they were using was Ethemax, containing Ethephon 480 g/L SL as its active ingredient.
The FDA described the product as a licensed plant growth regulator carrying a "Harmful" hazard warning.
The FDA outlined a number of measures it is taking in response to the findings:
1. The FDA, in collaboration with the relevant authorities, is taking appropriate regulatory action against those engaged in the unauthorised sale, distribution or inappropriate use of the product.
2. The public is advised to use agricultural chemicals strictly in accordance with the approved conditions of use and label instructions.
3. Inappropriate use, including incorrect concentrations or application to commodities for which a product is not authorised, may present food safety concerns. The FDA will not hesitate to apply the requisite sanctions under such circumstances.
4. We caution against the indiscriminate use of chemicals or other substances to accelerate plantain ripening, as any inappropriate use may result in unacceptable chemical residues and potentially compromise food safety.
5. Consumers are encouraged to obtain fruits and vegetables from trusted sources and to wash fresh produce thoroughly with potable water before consumption.
6. The FDA will continue its food safety education and market surveillance activities to promote the safe handling and marketing of fruits and vegetables and discourage practices that may compromise food safety and public health.
7. The public is encouraged to report suspected unsafe food handling, processing, storage or inappropriate chemical uses to the FDA for prompt investigation.
Carbide
In the Citi FM interview on Tuesday morning, Mr Daddey-Adjei warned of a more dangerous alternative, saying some traders have been using acetylene, commonly known as carbide.
Comparing it to the gas used in bamboo cannons fired at Ghanaian funerals, he said acetylene, unlike the approved ripening chemical, is toxic and can have an immediate effect on the person using it.
Asked whether the FDA would recommend banning the Ethemax outright, as the Madina traders had proposed, Mr Daddey-Adjei indicated this was not the Authority's preferred course of action.
He said demand for large volumes of ripened plantain, for example to cater for a party requiring dozens or hundreds of plates of fried plantain at short notice, makes some form of accelerated ripening practically unavoidable. "If it will be used, or if it must be done, then it must be done right," he said.
To ensure correct use, Mr Daddey-Adjei said the FDA was working with the Plant Protection and Regulatory Services Directorate (PPRSD) under the Ministry of Agriculture to deliver structured training to traders.
He said a meeting with market queens across the Greater Accra Region is expected within one to two weeks, with plans to extend training to other regions afterwards.
He added that traders can often be identified as using the chemical incorrectly by visible dark spots forming in a concentric pattern on the plantain skin, caused by uneven gas distribution.
On legal responsibility, he noted that under Section 97 of the Public Health Act, any trader who offers food for sale is liable for it, regardless of who supplied or produced it, and cannot pass blame onto farmers.
He confirmed that regulatory action had been taken against the trader identified in the Madina case, though he did not disclose further details of the sanction, describing the FDA's broader approach as rooted in education and dialogue rather than punitive enforcement.
He reiterated an appeal to the public to report suspected unsafe food practices directly to environmental health officers at local markets, rather than relying on social media.
