The Eastern Regional Manager of the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), Anita Owusu-Kuffour, has called for an immediate nationwide ban on locally made metal cooking pots, popularly known as “Dadesen,” citing alarming levels of lead contamination detected in their production.
Speaking during a stakeholder engagement on heavy metal contamination in cereal-legume mixes held in Somanya in the Yilo Krobo Municipality, Madam Owusu-Kuffour revealed that FDA investigations had confirmed the use of toxic lead by local artisans in the manufacturing process of these pots.
According to her, the lead is deliberately added to soften the metal, making moulding easier a practice that poses grave health risks to consumers.
“When they are making the pots, the metal becomes hard, so they add lead to soften it.
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The sad part is that most local manufacturers have no idea about the health implications,” she said.
“We are, therefore, advising the public to stop using ‘Dadesen’ that contain lead.”
Madam Owusu-Kuffour cautioned that the continuous use of lead-contaminated cookware can result in cancer, kidney failure, Parkinson’s disease, and other chronic conditions.
She explained that when food is cooked in such pots, the heat causes the lead to leach into the food, making it dangerous for human consumption.
The FDA official urged local artisans to abandon the use of lead and adopt safer materials such as stainless steel, which offers both safety and durability.
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