The Ghana Police Service, through the Koforidua Central Police Command, has arrested seven female traders for allegedly possessing and selling palm oil suspected to be adulterated with Sudan dye, a substance banned for use in food products.
The arrests, carried out on Thursday, April 16, 2026, followed earlier tests conducted by the Food and Drugs Authority, which reportedly found traces of the industrial dye in palm oil samples collected from markets in Koforidua.
The suspects were taken into custody following a targeted operation designed to purge the local market of adulterated goods.
Investigations reveal that the dye is frequently added to give the oil a deep, vibrant red colour.
This deceptive tactic is used to lure unsuspecting buyers who often associate a darker colour with higher quality and freshness, though the reality is far more dangerous.
The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has classified Sudan dye as a non-permitted colourant and a potent carcinogen.
Consuming this industrial substance, which is typically reserved for colouring waxes and polishes, poses severe health risks, including long-term organ damage and the development of various cancers.
Because the chemical is not meant for human ingestion, its presence in a household staple represents a major threat to the safety of the food supply chain.
Local police and the FDA confirmed that the suspects are currently assisting with ongoing investigations as part of an intensified campaign to sanitise the marketplace.
