A clinical dietician, Prince Dimha, has warned fruit sellers—especially those who sell African star apple fruit, popularly known as ‘Alasa’, and oranges—to stop washing the fruits with soap before selling them.
According to him, washing fruits with soap poses serious health risks to consumers, as some soaps contain harmful chemicals such as chlorine and bleach, which are not safe for human consumption.
His warning follows research indicating that some fruit sellers wash fruits with soap to make them appear more attractive to buyers.
While this practice may boost sales, Prince Dimha cautioned that it could be dangerous, explaining that fruits like Alasa have tiny holes that allow soapy water and chemicals to penetrate.
A follow-up investigation by Onua News revealed that many sellers in the markets wash fruits using water and a sponge.
Ironically, the investigation also found that some sellers use juice extracted from alasa to garnish the fruits after washing, making them appear shiny and more appealing.
When questioned about the use of soap, the sellers denied the practice, stating that they only use water and sponge to clean the fruits.
Speaking in an interview, Prince Dimha noted that many diseases are on the rise, including cancer, and attributed some of these health issues to unsafe food-handling practices.
“There are a lot of diseases in the system today, and cancer cases are increasing. Some of these actions have made many people sick.
We need to be careful about what we consume,” he said.
“Cancers are rising, and we do not always know their sources—whether from food, fruits, or other causes. Sellers should stop using soap. If you want to wash fruits properly, use clean water. I plead with those involved to stop because we are harming ourselves. It could even be a family member who suffers because of these chemicals,” he stressed.
Prince Dimha also highlighted Ghana’s current environmental challenges, including illegal mining (galamsey), warning that the country cannot afford additional public health risks.
For vegetable sellers, he advised washing their produce with saltwater or vinegar solutions to help eliminate bacteria.
“If you want to store vegetables, sprinkle vinegar or a salt solution on them before keeping them in the fridge,” he added.
