The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has warned the public against buying or consuming food and beverage products that may have been damaged by floodwater, cautioning that such items could pose serious health risks.
The warning follows recent flooding in parts of the country, which resulted in several commercial stocks being submerged. In a public notice dated August 13, 2026, the FDA said some traders were attempting to wash, clean, repackage and resell flood-damaged products to unsuspecting consumers.
The Authority said floodwater can contain sewage, refuse and harmful microorganisms. It warned that simply washing the exterior of a bottle or package does not make a flood-damaged product safe for consumption.
According to the FDA, floodwater can compromise bottle caps, seals and other parts of packaging, potentially allowing contaminants to come into contact with the contents.
Consuming contaminated products could expose people to serious water-borne diseases, including cholera, typhoid fever and dysentery.
The warning follows an investigation into a complaint involving a beverage distributor in Alajo whose shop was severely affected by flooding
According to the FDA, the distributor allegedly moved the affected stock to a residential location in Bubiashie, where attempts were being made to wash and prepare the products for resale.
FDA officials who visited the Bubiashie location seized approximately one truckload of mud-covered bottled water and soft drinks that had reportedly been earmarked for disposal.
Further investigations revealed that the Ghana Police Service at Kaneshie had also received a complaint concerning the same matter. Police subsequently arrested the business owner, who has since been granted bail, and confiscated a similar quantity of the affected products.
The FDA reminded the public that under the Public Health Act, 2012 (Act 851), it is illegal to sell, offer for sale or distribute food products that are contaminated, unwholesome or unfit for human consumption.
The Authority said it has the legal mandate to seize such products and prosecute individuals who violate the law.
Consumers have been advised to carefully inspect food and beverage products before purchasing them, particularly items with mud stains, watermarks, peeling labels or other visible signs of flood exposure.
The FDA also urged the public to be cautious about products being sold from unusual locations or offered in bulk without a verifiable source.
Consumers are encouraged to purchase food and beverages from licensed and reputable outlets.
The Authority further advised households and businesses whose stocks have been affected by flooding to discard them safely rather than attempting to clean and resell them.
Manufacturers, distributors and retailers have also been warned against washing, repackaging, relabelling or reselling products that have been submerged in floodwater.
The FDA said affected products should be quarantined immediately and the nearest FDA office contacted to facilitate proper verification and safe disposal.
It warned that failure to comply with the directive could attract sanctions under Ghana’s laws.