The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has clarified that a viral and disturbing video showing beans allegedly being preserved with a white powder suspected to be cement did not originate from Ghana, following preliminary investigations.

The footage, which has been widely circulated on social media, shows several individuals walking over heaps of beans, pouring a powdery substance resembling concrete cement onto the foodstuff, and sweeping it through the grains to mix thoroughly — all purportedly as a preservation method.

However, in a statement issued in Accra on February 16, 2026, the authority stressed that the practice is foreign to Ghanaian food handling standards and is not recognised or approved locally.

According to the FDA, an initial review of the video indicates that the language spoken is not Ghanaian. A translation of the narration, it said, points to unsafe and unhygienic procedures that fall far below accepted food safety protocols.

The footage also shows individuals handling the beans with bare hands, applying chemicals without protective gear, and even standing directly on the produce without any protective clothing, actions the regulator described as serious breaches of food safety principles.

The authority emphasised that such practices are neither recommended nor endorsed by the Plant Protection and Regulatory Services Directorate of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, nor do they form part of any approved agricultural preservation method in the country.

“The FDA, together with its stakeholder institutions, does not approve of food preservation practices that compromise food safety and public health,” the statement said.

It further reassured consumers that the methods depicted are not encouraged in Ghana and urged the public not to associate the unsafe practice with local food systems.

Farm produce aggregators and retailers have been advised to strictly adhere to approved preservation techniques, while consumers are encouraged to report any suspicious food handling or preservation activities for investigation and possible sanctions.

Reaffirming its mandate, FDA said it remains committed to safeguarding public health and ensuring that all food products sold on the Ghanaian market meet established safety and quality standards.