Ghana’s Food and Drugs Authority has ordered a recall of Choice Irish Cream Flavoured Drink from the market after Sildenafil Citrate, a prescription drug used to treat erectile dysfunction was detected by laboratory tests taken.
The FDA noted that the product was found to be adulterated with an undeclared drug substance, posing health risks to consumers.
The Acting Chief Executive Officer of the FDA, Prof. Kwabena Frimpong-Manso Opuni, said the presence of Sildenafil in a food product could cause dangerous reactions when taken with certain medicines.
It warned that the chemical could interact with drugs such as nitroglycerin, leading to a sudden drop in blood pressure and possible heart attack or stroke.
The Authority added that prolonged use of the substance could result in other health problems, including loss of vision or hearing, painful or prolonged erection, and psychological dependence.
The FDA was working with the manufacturer, 1 Africa Industries Limited, to remove all affected products from the market for safe disposal. He reminded the public that adulterating food products is an offence under Section 100 (4) of the Public Health Act, 2012 (Act 851).
Consumers, retailers, and distributors have been asked to stop selling or consuming the drink and to report anyone offering it for sale to the nearest FDA office.
The FDA said it would continue to monitor the market to protect public health and ensure that all regulated products, including alcoholic beverages, are safe and properly manufactured.
About the Author
