An alarming food safety practice has been uncovered in some local markets across the country, where fruit vendors wash fruits with soap before selling them to customers to make the produce appear cleaner and more appealing.

Checks by the Ghana News Agency (GNA) reveal that fruits such as African star apple (alasa) and oranges are soaked in soapy water for about 10 minutes, rinsed, and then displayed for sale to make them appear cleaner and more attractive to buyers.

Vendors who spoke to the GNA admitted that the practice is driven largely by customer demand for visibly clean produce, explaining that fruits that look dirty often go unsold.

A fruit seller, who requested anonymity, said washing the fruits boosts sales and helps traders avoid losses.

“If the fruits are not washed, customers complain that they are dirty and refuse to buy t“If the fruits are not washed, customers complain that they are dirty and refuse to buy them. When we wash them, more people buy them,” she said.

She explained that fruits purchased directly from farms sometimes arrive bruised or stained with soil, making them difficult to sell in that condition. According to her, traders resort to washing African star apples and oranges with soap to improve their appearance and slow spoilage.

However, consumers have expressed concern that soap residue left on fruits could pose health risks, especially for fruits eaten without peeling or further washing.

Public health experts have warned that using soap on food items is unsafe and have called for intensified public education and stricter monitoring of food handling practices in local markets to safeguard consumer health.