Manufacturers of Choice Irish Cream Flavoured Drink have been ordered by the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) to recall their products from the market after tests revealed the presence of a sex-enhancing drug ingredient.According to the FDA, in a statement issued in Accra on Wednesday, November 5, the ingredient, Sildenafil Citrate, which is used to treat erectile dysfunction, was added by 1 Africa Industries Limited.

The statement further noted that the substance has not been approved by the Authority and poses health risks to consumers.Last month, the Authority ordered a market recall of the herbal medicine, Omama Herbal Mixture.

This followed a collaborative market surveillance and laboratory testing exercise conducted by the FDA and the Ghana Police Service, which revealed that the medicine contained harmful substances.

In a statement issued by the FDA on Friday, October 31, the regulatory body warned the public to desist from patronising the medicine.

The FDA mentioned that, while the herbal mixture had been registered as a medication for malaria and loss of appetite, it “has been adulterated with Diazepam, Metronidazole, Paracetamol, and Niacinamide, which are all allopathic medicines,” warning that consumption of the mixture without a proper prescription has the potential to cause harm to consumers.

“The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), in collaboration with the Ghana Police Service, carried out market surveillance and laboratory analysis of Omama Herbal Mixture. The laboratory analysis revealed that Omama Herbal Mixture… It is important to note that Omama Herbal Mixture is registered as a herbal medicinal product indicated for malaria and loss of appetite and is not expected to contain any allopathic medicines.

"The medicines found in Omama Herbal Mixture are dangerous when taken without a prescription and/or advice from a qualified health professional. The public is, therefore, advised not to patronise Omama Herbal Mixture,” parts of the statement read.

Consequently, to ensure public safety, the FDA noted that it was working in collaboration with the herbal company to recall the products from the market.

“Meanwhile, the FDA is working with Omama Herbal Group Limited to recall all products on the market for safe disposal and appropriate regulatory actions, including criminal prosecution. The FDA wishes to assure the public that it will not relent in its efforts to ensure public health and safety,” the statement added.The FDA also admonished the public to help promote consumer safety by reporting any person, pharmacy, or entity found selling the herbal mixture.“The public is advised to provide information on persons, pharmacies, and over-the-counter medicine sellers (OTCMS) offering Omama Herbal Mixture for sale to the nearest FDA office,” the statement concluded.

In a related development, the FDA, in early August, suspended the manufacture of Tasty Tom Enriched Tomato Mix following consumer complaints and an investigation into Nutrifoods Ghana Limited’s manufacturing plant, which revealed infractions related to standards and quality.

In a statement issued on August 3, the Food and Drugs Authority noted that “maintenance of critical manufacturing equipment was poor, and monitoring systems were inadequate to protect public health and safety.”

The lapses at the manufacturing plant affected the integrity of the canned products by compromising the sealing mechanisms, leading to contamination and bloating of the products in pouches.

“Mould was found on some of them, raising serious health and safety concerns, hence the suspension and product recall,” the statement added.

A market recall of all canned Tasty Tom Enriched Tomato Mix products, and specific batches of the product in pouches (the 380g and 1.05kg pouches), was earlier directed by the FDA.

On August 1, Nutrifoods Ghana Limited, following guidance from the FDA and National Security after incidents of bloating, recalled all batches of the Tasty Tom Enriched Tomato Mix in 210g and 400g cans, as well as 380g and 1.05kg pouches.

In a statement, the Business Head of the company, Jay Jagadip, revealed that in January 2025, the FDA suspended the can manufacturing lines for the 210g and 400g Tasty Tom Enriched Tomato Mix, and production had since ceased.

The company’s manufacturing activities were suspended until further notice to ensure full compliance with all regulatory recommendations. The company entreated consumers to return any of its packages they suspected to be affected.

“Moreover, if you have any of the Tasty Tom Enriched Tomato Mix that you suspect may be affected, please return them to the above locations or contact the above number as well.

We deeply regret any inconvenience caused to our consumers and trade partners because of this issue and recall. We at Nutrifoods Ghana Ltd are committed to delivering high-quality products meeting all the required stringent national food safety standards and ensuring our consumers are delighted with our products. We want to reassure our consumers and trade partners that we are doing our best to recover all affected products and replace them without difficulty,” the statement added.

The FDA has commenced internal investigations to ascertain if there were regulatory lapses, particularly because Nutrifoods had earlier in January 2025 been barred from manufacturing the product, in line with the Food and Drugs Authority’s commitment to transparency and accountability.

The FDA has noted that any dereliction of duty identified will be swiftly dealt with to strengthen the Authority’s regulatory oversight. Meanwhile, the Food and Drugs Authority has advised consumers, retailers, and wholesalers to take note of this directive and act accordingly.

“We will continue to exercise rigorous oversight in accordance with our mandate to protect public health and safety,” the Authority assured.

The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA)-Ghana was established in 1992 as the Food and Drugs Board (FDB) based on the 1992 Food and Drug Law (PNDCL 305B), later amended by the Food and Drugs Act of 1996. The legislation was revised in 2012 and integrated into the new Public Health Act 851, 2012, which established the Food and Drugs Authority.

The FDA’s legal mandate is found in Part 6 (Tobacco Control Measures), Part 7 (Organisation and Responsibilities of the FDA), and Part 8 (Clinical Trials) of the Public Health Act, 2012 (Act 851).

It is the national regulatory body responsible for the regulation of food, drugs, food supplements, herbal and homeopathic medicines, veterinary medicines, cosmetics, medical devices, household chemical substances, tobacco and tobacco products, blood and blood products, as well as the conduct of clinical trial protocols.

The Governing Board, which ensures the effective implementation of the Authority’s functions, has mission and vision statements aimed at protecting the health and safety of people in Ghana and positioning the FDA as a global centre of excellence for food and medical product regulation.

The FDA Executive Committee, headed by the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), is responsible for the daily operational management, service delivery, and strategic direction of the organisation.

Conscious of this mandate, the committee has established a Quality Management System to ensure operational consistency, improved productivity, reduced costs, increased efficiency, better service delivery, and enhanced reputation, ultimately leading to customer satisfaction.

The FDA’s Quality Management System (QMS) is a formalised framework with documented processes, procedures, and responsibilities for achieving quality policies and objectives. It coordinates and directs the organisation’s activities to meet customer and regulatory requirements while continually improving effectiveness and efficiency.

This has led to the creation of a Quality Management Systems Department (QMSD) responsible for establishing, implementing, and maintaining a quality management system in line with international standards such as ISO 9001, ISO 17025, WHO Prequalification, and the WHO Global Benchmarking Tool (WHO-GBT).

The FDA’s QMS is certified to ISO 9001:2015 for all its operations. Regulatory systems play a key role in assuring the quality, safety, and efficacy of medical products. Effective regulatory systems are an essential component of health systems and contribute to public health outcomes and innovation.