The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has warned the public against the use of cement or any illegal substances in the preservation of beans, following a viral video going around on social media proposing the practice.
On February 16, 2026, the authority in a press release stated that the video, which seems to show beans being preserved with a white powdery substance believed to be concrete cement, does not represent authorized agricultural or food preservation methods in Ghana.
The method shown in the video is not acknowledged or approved by the Plant Protection and Regulation Services Directorate (PPRSD) of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture according to the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA).
What the authority observed, reveals that the language spoken in the video is not Ghanaian based on a review of the video.
The narration’s translation reportedly demonstrates hazardous and unhygienic handling practices, such as the use of chemicals with bare hands and the lack of protective equipment.
The video footage also shows an individual standing directly on a heap of beans without any protective equipment.
The FDA emphasized that the use of cement for food preservation is not approved under Ghana’s food safety regulations.
Stakeholder organizations, along with the FDA does not endorse of food preservation methods that put food safety and public health at risk,” the statement stressed.
The FDA again slandered the use of unauthorized substances, bad hygiene procedures, and direct hand contact with food without protective equipment, defining them as breaching of acceptable food safety guidelines.
The authority urged farm produce aggregators and retailers to desist from using or showcasing unhealthy preservation methods, and reassured the general public that such methods are discouraged in Ghana.
Customers have been advised to report any questionable food handling or preservation procedures to the Food and Drugs Authoriry (FDA) for investigation and possible punishment.
About the Author
