No Evidence Vendors Use Plastic in Frying Plantain Chips – FDA Assures Public

The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has dismissed viral social media claims suggesting that vendors add plastic to oil when frying plantain chips to make them crispier.

Speaking on the Channel One Newsroom on Wednesday, March 11, the Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the FDA, Roderick Kwabena Daddey-Adjei, described the circulating reports as false and misleading. He explained that although the authority is investigating the claims through nationwide market checks, there is currently no evidence supporting the allegation.

“What is going around is purporting that if you use plastic, the plastic melts and then coats the plantain, and therefore it becomes crisp. That is wrong, and that is something we have already put out there on social media and on YouTube, where we emphasize that these are myths, in fact not only in Ghana. There are other places in Asia where such stories and some people who want to trend come up with such stories,” he said.

Daddey-Adjei further assured the public that ongoing market surveillance has not uncovered any proof that vendors are using plastic during the frying process. He stressed that the chemistry of plastic and edible oil makes the claim scientifically unfounded.

“We want to assure the public that so far the FDA hasn’t had such evidence and is still conducting the market surveillance. If you put such plastics in oil, the plastic is another type of chemistry, and the oil is edible, they don’t mix so people should not come up with such information,” he explained.

He also urged members of the public to report any food safety concerns directly to the FDA instead of spreading unverified videos or rumours online that could mislead others.

Source: CitiNews.com

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