An alarming practice has emerged in some local markets, where fruit vendors are washing produce with soap before selling to customers.
The Ghana News Agency reported that fruits such as African star apple, known locally as alasa, and oranges are soaked in soapy water for about 10 minutes, rinsed, and then displayed for sale.
Vendors told GNA the practice is meant to make the fruits look cleaner and more appealing to buyers.
“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,” one fruit seller said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
She explained that traders face high costs and often try to avoid losses, since unsold produce quickly spoils. Fruits purchased directly from farms, she added, sometimes arrive bruised or stained with dirt, making them harder to sell.
African star apple and oranges are the fruits most commonly washed with soap, she said, noting the process improves their appearance and slows spoilage.
Consumers, however, have raised concerns about food safety and the potential health risks posed by soap residue on fruits.
