The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has cautioned the public against the use of a substance known as “Sukudai,” being marketed as a heart-cleansing remedy in the Kumasi Metropolis.
The Authority said the product was not registered for sale or use in Ghana and should not be consumed.
A statement issued by the FDA and copied to the Ghana News Agency said laboratory analysis of samples collected in Kumasi confirmed the presence of chloroform in the product.
The statement explained that chloroform was a colourless liquid with a pleasant, non-irritating odour and a slightly sweet taste.
It said the substance was historically used as an anaesthetic to induce sleep during surgical procedures and in some pharmaceutical preparations.
However, the Authority noted that chloroform was no longer used in medicine or the pharmaceutical industry because of its toxic nature and association with serious health effects, including cancer.
The FDA warned that ingesting or inhaling chloroform could rapidly affect the body and lead to severe health complications such as drowsiness and sedation, breathing difficulties, liver damage, kidney damage, loss of consciousness, cancer and even death.
The statement said the warning followed a viral video circulating on social media claiming that the substance could corrode Styrofoam plates, which are disposable plates made from expanded polystyrene foam.
It said the Authority was collaborating with stakeholders, including National Security, the Ghana Police Service and the media, to educate the public on the dangers associated with the use of “Sukudai.”
The FDA said that efforts were underway to identify, arrest and prosecute persons involved in the production, distribution or sale of the unregistered product and similar substances.
The Authority urged the public to report individuals selling “Sukudai” or other unregistered products through the “Make a Complaint” section on its website, www.fdaghana.gov.gh, or via its official social media platforms and hotlines.
It reiterated its commitment to safeguarding public health and encouraged consumers to use only FDA-approved and registered medicinal products.
GNA
