FDA orders recall of Franko Herbal Mixture over drug contamination

The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has issued an order for Franko Herbal Centre to recall its Franko Herbal Mixture from the market within a fortnight following tests revealing the product contained unauthorized drugs. The factory producing the mixture in Jacobu, Ashanti Region, has also been shut down. The FDA plans to dispose of the recalled products safely.

In a notice dated October 19, 2026, the FDA cautioned that the company might face additional penalties, such as criminal prosecution, if it does not comply. Laboratory analysis found that the mixture, registered as a herbal medicine made from Carica papaya, Alstonei boonei, and Tetrapleura tetraptera, was adulterated with diazepam and paracetamol.

Both substances pose significant health and safety risks when present in a herbal product. Diazepam, a prescription-only medicine for anxiety disorders and seizures, can cause severe sedation, respiratory depression, coma, and death when combined with other medications. Long-term use of diazepam can also lead to central nervous system issues, including confusion, forgetfulness, dizziness, nightmares, hallucinations, impaired judgment, and seizures.

Paracetamol, an over-the-counter painkiller, can cause severe liver damage and acute liver failure if overdosed, which can be fatal if not treated promptly. The FDA emphasizes that the mixture violates the law in multiple ways, including selling an adulterated herbal medicinal product and making false, misleading, or deceptive claims about its composition.

The public is urged not to purchase or consume Franko Herbal Mixture, while retailers and distributors must adhere strictly to the FDA's directive. Anyone found selling the product should report it to the nearest FDA office.