The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has issued a strong call for a nationwide crackdown on the popular locally manufactured metal cooking pots widely known as Dadesen, after new investigations uncovered dangerous levels of lead in the products.
The Eastern Regional office of the FDA says artisans who produce these pots are mixing lead into the metal to make the moulding process easier — a decision that could have life-threatening consequences for millions of households.
Lead contamination from cookware is described by the FDA as a silent killer, with long-term exposure linked to kidney damage, cancers, neurological disorders including Parkinson’s disease, and severe developmental issues. The heavy metal gradually seeps into food when heated, turning daily meals into potential health hazards.
The Agency has urged consumers to immediately retire any metal pots suspected of being made with lead and switch to safer alternatives. Local producers have also been advised to transition to non-toxic materials like stainless steel, which do not compromise public health.
The warning followed a stakeholder forum in Somanya focused on heavy metal contamination in cereal-legume products, where FDA’s latest findings on contaminated cookware sparked major concern. Authorities say the situation requires swift action to protect public safety and prevent future health crises.
The FDA emphasizes that safeguarding lives must outweigh convenience, and the era of toxic pots in Ghanaian kitchens must come to an end.
