Health and Foods

Xpert cautions use of plastic materials for food packaging

Aug 31 2026
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Nana Effah Gyamfi, the Principal Research Assistant, Public Health at the University of Ghana says the use of Styrofoam materials like 'takeaways' for food packaging remain harmful to the body system.

She told Ama Konadu on the Monday edition of the Sunyani-based Sompa FM "Adea Akyi Abia" morning show that the uncontrolled use of those plastic materials for food packaging had serious long-term health complications.

Nana Gyamfi justified that heat that emanated from plastic materials could lace food with toxicants and potentially increase the risk of cancers.

He therefore recommended the use of paper bags for food packaging.

James Otwey Junior, Head of Corporate Affairs at the Ashanti Regional office of the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) packaging food with paper remained the best option for the nation.

Besides health, he noted that the use of paper for food packaging remain affordable and could help the nation to manage its waste properly and control plastic waste pollution.

Sompaonline.com/Lydia Lariba Abawana