Mrs Anita Owusu-Kuffour, the Eastern Regional Manager of the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), has called for an immediate ban on the locally made cooking pots popularly known as “Dadesen.”
She cited the detection of dangerous levels of lead in their production, warning that the contamination posed serious health risks to consumers.
Mrs Owusu-Kuffour made the call during a stakeholder engagement on heavy metal contamination in cereal-legume mixes held in Somanya in the Yilo Krobo Municipality of the Eastern Region.
She explained that FDA surveillance had revealed that lead, a toxic heavy metal, is often added during the manufacturing process of “Dadesen” pots to soften the metal and make moulding easier.
However, this practice exposes users to severe health risks, including cancer, kidney failure, and Parkinson’s disease.
“When they are making the pots, the metal becomes hard, so they add lead to soften it. The sad part is that most of the local manufacturers have no idea about the health implications,” she said. “We are therefore advising the public to stop using ‘Dadesen’ that contain lead.”
When asked how consumers could identify pots made with lead, she noted that the best solution was for artisans to stop using lead entirely and adopt safer alternatives such as stainless steel for cookware production.
She also cautioned against careless use of non-stick cookware, warning that once the protective coating begins to wear off, it can release toxic chemicals and heavy metals into food.
“If the coating wears off, you are exposing yourself to serious health implications including cancer, because some of these coatings also contain heavy metals,” she explained.
Mrs Owusu-Kuffour further warned that some materials used in manufacturing kitchen utensils are questionable and can become harmful when scratched or corroded.
In such cases, chemicals may leach into food and enter the bloodstream, leading to chronic illnesses.
“A good-quality stainless steel product can serve both purposes; safety and durability,” she said.
The Regional Manager emphasised that ensuring food safety required a collective effort among producers, regulators, and consumers.
“As science and technology improve, it is important for all of us to adapt and move away from harmful practices to protect public health,” she added.
