FDA worried about tablets and pills used for bleaching

The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has expressed worry about the incessant use of pills and tablets among some Ghanaians to lighten their skins.

“The Doctors are also worried about this new craze among some of the citizenry to swallow cosmetics pills and tablets in the name of getting an even or all-around form of bleaching”, he added.

Mr Emmanuel Nkrumah, Head of Cosmetics and Household Chemical of the FDA, who said this at a news conference in Takoradi, described the practice as "unfortunate and learning blindly" from other cultures with its resultant negative effect on the black skin.

He said the use of the cosmetics tend to stop the production of Melanie which protects the black skin from the sun’s harmful race and advised against such forms of bleaching agents.

Bleaching according to him, continued to introduce its victims to lots of diseases such as diabetes, cancers, liver and kidney problems, body odour and hypertension among others and did not understand why men and woman would spend money to contract diseases.

Mr Nkrumah said the Food and Drugs Authority had not approved of these tablets and pills currently circulating in the country adding, “Even no cosmetic can be taken orally with the exception of toothpaste and mouthwash”.

He said though surveillance at the market revealed that such tablets and pills were not on the markets, doctors and health workers continued to report to the Authority from patients with adverse effects of the new pills and tablets.

“We are now liaising with the security agencies to enable us trace the sources of these pills and tablets and we urge consumers of these cosmetic products to also stop the practice with immediate effect”, he added.

Speaking on alcohol advertisement, Mr James Lartey, Head of Communication and Public Education, said the FDA was enforcing the restricted time of airing such adverts of alcoholic beverages on radio and television only after 2000 hours.

Alcohol according to him, continued to be an abused substance among the youth all over the world and excessive drinking had both public health and safety risks on the nation’s health care systems.

Mr Lartey said the restriction was, therefore, a good intervention to protect the health of the entire population and secure the future of the Ghanaian youth and the authority would, therefore, encourage the media, advertisers, manufacturers and importers of alcoholic beverages to adhere to the directive to protect Children.