Doctor Adu Frederick, a Ghanaian medical practitioner based in Ghana, has raised serious concerns about food poisoning and food safety in the country. Speaking in an interview with DJ Nyaami on SVTV Africa’s Daily Hustle Worldwide show, he warned that many of the health problems affecting Ghanaians today are directly linked to what people eat.
According to Dr. Adu Frederick, food poisoning does not only come from roadside food vendors but often originates from people close to us, including partners at home and colleagues at workplaces. He added that, surprisingly, some food items approved by regulatory authorities can also be sources of poisoning when they are improperly handled or contaminated before reaching consumers.
He revealed that the increasing cases of cancer, kidney failure, and other chronic diseases are largely connected to harmful chemicals used in food production and preservation. Dr. Adu alleged that some fish sellers use formalin to preserve fish, while certain farmers apply unapproved chemicals to crops such as okro to make them grow faster or last longer. He also claimed that dyes and chemicals are added to red fish to improve appearance, posing serious health risks to consumers.
Dr. Adu Frederick described the situation as a slow and silent killer, stating that people are “dying gradually” because of what they eat daily. He questioned the effectiveness of food regulation and enforcement, stressing that the issue must be treated as a national concern rather than a political one.
He further explained that doctors sometimes discover severely damaged or “rotten” stomach linings in patients, caused by prolonged intake of contaminated food. He linked infertility issues, especially among some women, to the poor quality of food consumed over time.
He also raised alarm over locally brewed palm wine and alcoholic beverages, alleging that some are produced using fake or industrial alcohol. Additionally, he warned about the heavy use of preservatives in foods that last for years, including canned products, some of which may be poisonous if misused or poorly regulated. He questioned how items such as rubber rice found their way into Ghanaian markets, warning that consuming such products can lead to serious illness.
Dr. Adu Frederick urged Ghanaians to be extremely cautious about where they buy food, noting that formalin-treated foods can be so toxic that even houseflies avoid them. He called on authorities and citizens alike to take food safety seriously, emphasizing that protecting lives must come above profit and politics.














