STORY: PRINCE OBIMPEH / WWW.NEWSMANGH.COM
The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has ordered Unni Associates Company Limited to recall all Arcan Bitters products from the market within 14 days after laboratory tests allegedly detected an undeclared prescription drug in the alcoholic beverage.
In a public notice issued on September 2, 2026, the FDA said laboratory analysis found that Arcan Bitters, which contains 35 per cent alcohol by volume, had been adulterated with sildenafil citrate. The Authority has consequently shut down the company’s factory at Parkoso in the Asokore Mampong Municipality of the Ashanti Region.
Sildenafil citrate is a prescription-only medicine used to treat erectile dysfunction and pulmonary arterial hypertension. According to the FDA, Arcan Bitters is registered strictly as an alcoholic drink and must, therefore, not contain any medicinal substance.
The FDA warned that the hidden drug could interact dangerously with other medicines and cause a sudden drop in blood pressure, potentially resulting in a stroke or heart attack. Prolonged exposure may also cause serious health complications, including loss of vision and hearing.
The Authority said adulterating food products violates Section 100(3) of the Public Health Act, 2012 (Act 851), warning the manufacturer of possible criminal prosecution and further regulatory sanctions. Consumers have been advised to stop buying or drinking Arcan Bitters, while retailers and distributors must report anyone selling the product to the nearest FDA office.
