The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has issued an urgent public alert following a JoyNews report of the discovery of a dangerous, unregistered substance being sold under the name ‘Sukudai’.

Marketed primarily in the Kumasi Metropolis as a "heart-cleansing" remedy, the product has been revealed by laboratory analysis to contain high levels of Chloroform, a toxic chemical with devastating health consequences.

The alert, issued on Friday, 13th March 2026, follows the viral spread of videos showing the substance corroding Styrofoam plates—a phenomenon that has now been scientifically linked to the solvent properties of Chloroform.

According to the FDA, Chloroform was historically used as a surgical anaesthetic but was long ago abandoned by the medical and pharmaceutical industries due to its extreme toxicity and link to cancer.

READ ALSO: ‘Sukudai’ cocktail may pose serious kidney and liver risks after lab tests kill rats within 24 hours

As a colourless liquid with a deceptively sweet taste, Chloroform is rapidly absorbed by the body through ingestion or inhalation. The FDA warns that users of ‘Sukudai’ are at immediate risk of:

• Organ Failure: Severe damage to the liver and kidneys.
• Respiratory Distress: Acute breathing difficulties and sedation.
• Neurological Impact: Drowsiness, loss of consciousness, and in extreme cases, death.

KNUST research: Corrosive power explained

A parallel investigation by researchers at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) has provided deeper insight into the styrofoam melting demonstration seen on social media. The researchers confirmed that Chloroform acts as a potent solvent for polystyrene (Styrofoam).

While vendors use this effect to claim the product "melts away" heart blockages or fat, KNUST experts clarify that the chemical is simply dissolving the plastic, and its effect on human tissue is corrosive and destructive rather than curative. The research team noted that the "cleansing" effect touted by vendors is a scientific impossibility and a dangerous marketing fabrication.

Cracking down on ‘Sukudai’ vendors

The FDA has moved into an enforcement phase, collaborating with National Security and the Ghana Police Service to track down the producers and distributors of the unregistered tonic.

“The FDA cautions the public that Sukudai is NOT registered by the Authority... we are working to arrest and prosecute anyone found distributing or selling this and other unregistered products,” the statement signed by the FDA CEO emphasised.

The public is urged to immediately cease the use of any product labelled ‘Sukudai’ or any unlabelled "heart-cleansing" liquids sold in the Kumasi area. Consumers are encouraged to report vendors through the 'Make a Complaint' section on the or via their hotlines at 0551112224/5.

This alert coincides with a broader regulatory push by the FDA, which is also enforcing a nationwide recall of alcoholic energy drinks containing stimulants like caffeine and ginseng by 31st March 2026.