The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has warned that some locally made cooking pots, known as “Dadesen,” could be dangerous to health.
During a stakeholder meeting on heavy metal contamination in cereal and legume products held in Somanya (Yilo Krobo Municipality), Madam Owusu-Kuffour from the FDA revealed that investigations showed some artisans use toxic lead in making these pots.
She explained that lead is added to the metal to make it softer and easier to mould, but this practice exposes consumers to serious health risks.
> “When they are making the pots, the metal becomes hard, so they add lead to soften it. Sadly, many local manufacturers don’t know the health dangers involved,” she said.
The FDA has therefore advised the public to stop using any “Dadesen” pots that contain lead.
According to Madam Owusu-Kuffour, cooking in such pots can cause the lead to mix with the food when heated, making it unsafe to eat. Continuous use of these pots could lead to cancer, kidney failure, Parkinson’s disease, and other long-term illnesses.
She urged local pot makers to stop using lead and instead use safer materials like stainless steel, which are both durable and safe for cooking.
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