The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), in collaboration with the Ghana Police Service, has conducted a comprehensive market surveillance and laboratory analysis of the product Omama Herbal Mixture. The exercise formed part of the Authority’s ongoing efforts to ensure the safety, quality, and efficacy of medicinal products available on the Ghanaian market.
According to the FDA, laboratory results revealed that Omama Herbal Mixture had been adulterated with four allopathic medicines—Diazepam, Metronidazole, Paracetamol, and Niacinamide. These substances are synthetic pharmaceutical ingredients that are not permitted in registered herbal preparations. Their presence in a product marketed as a purely herbal medicine poses significant health risks to consumers, particularly those who may unknowingly ingest the drug without medical supervision.
The Authority emphasized that Omama Herbal Mixture is registered solely as a herbal medicinal product, indicated for the management of malaria and loss of appetite. As such, it is not expected to contain any allopathic or synthetic chemical ingredients. The inclusion of these drugs constitutes a violation of public health regulations and raises serious concerns about product integrity, manufacturing standards, and consumer safety.
The FDA further cautioned the public against the misuse of unapproved or adulterated herbal medicines and advised consumers to always purchase such products from licensed pharmacies or recognized distributors. The Authority reaffirmed its commitment to intensify market surveillance and work closely with law enforcement agencies to identify, seize, and sanction the producers or distributors involved in the adulteration of regulated medicinal products.
