The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has issued a warning to the public about a substance commonly known as “Sukudai.” The FDA cautions that this unregistered product could pose serious health risks. This alert follows a viral video circulating on social media that claims the substance, which is reportedly being sold primarily in the Kumasi metropolitan area as a heart-cleansing remedy, can corrode Styrofoam plates. This has raised significant concerns regarding its chemical composition. In a public notice released on Friday, March 13, the FDA stated that laboratory analyses of samples collected from the Kumasi area confirmed the presence of chloroform in the product.
“The FDA cautions the public that Sukudai is NOT registered by the Authority. Besides, laboratory analysis of samples collected in the Kumasi Metropolis has confirmed the presence of chloroform,” the FDA said. The Authority explained that chloroform is a colourless liquid with a pleasant odour and a slightly sweet taste, previously used as an anaesthetic in surgery and in pharmaceutical preparations. However, it is no longer used in medicine due to its toxicity and links to serious health effects, including cancer.
According to the FDA, ingesting or inhaling chloroform allows the substance to rapidly enter the body and can lead to adverse health effects such as drowsiness, breathing difficulties, liver and kidney damage, loss of consciousness, and in severe cases, death. The Authority said it is collaborating with stakeholders, including the Ghana Police Service and national security agencies, to educate the public and clamp down on the distribution and sale of the product.
It further urged the public to avoid using “Sukudai” and to report anyone found selling the product through the complaint section of the FDA website or via its official hotlines and social media platforms.
Source: Leticia Osei
