5 Popular Foods Ghanaians Love That Are Secretly Linked to Cancer

Before you roll your eyes and say, "Everything causes cancer these days," hear me out. What if some of our favorite snacks and food habits were actually doing more harm than good? These are not just random "Google said it" warnings. These ones have made it to the news, international food safety reports, and even been flagged by Ghana’s own FDA. So, let’s talk about five of the biggest offenders you probably ate this week.

1. Styrofoam Food Packs (aka Take Away)

I know you've heard this one before and it is not a myth. You’ve definitely bought Waakye, Fried Rice, or Noodles in one of these squeaky white containers. They’re convenient, cheap, and everywhere. But here’s the tea: Styrofoam (aka polystyrene) releases a chemical called styrene when exposed to heat. And guess what? Hot food sitting inside these containers is the perfect storm. Studies have linked styrene to cancer, especially breast and lymphatic system cancers.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer, which is part of the World Health Organization, says that styrene (a chemical used to make Styrofoam) might cause cancer in people. They have put styrene in a group called Group 2B, which means:

"It possibly causes cancer in humans."

Let me make something clear. This doesn’t mean it will give you cancer, but it means there’s a chance it might, especially if someone is around it a lot. Also, a plastic called acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (used to make things like Styrofoam) might also cause cancer.

2. Instant Noodles

We’re looking at you, Buldak, Indomie, and all your spicy cousins. These noodles are fast, tasty, and addictive. But the dark side? They’re filled with additives like TBHQ (a preservative), monosodium glutamate (MSG), and insane sodium levels. Eating too much instant noodles can be bad for your health because they contain a lot of salt (sodium), which can cause high blood pressure and put stress on your kidneys. The high sodium and added MSG can also increase the risk of heart disease. In addition, regularly eating instant noodles has been linked to metabolic syndrome; a group of health problems that raise your chances of getting heart disease, diabetes, and stroke.

A few Korean instant noodle brands (Nongshim Shin Kimchi instant noodle soup) were even recalled in Europe in 2023 over concerns about ethylene oxide which is a known carcinogen (a substance capable of causing cancer in living tissue).

Now about cancer — I was scrolling on TikTok when I came across a video about Buldak noodles. The video showed that the packaging has a warning label that says, “cancer and reproductive harm.” I know there are crazy noodle lovers out there (myself inclusive) so, do with the information what you will. But imagine eating hot instant noodles in a Styrofoam which is already on this list?

3. Red Drinks That Look Like Paint

Ultra-processed drinks and foods can increase your risk of cancer, mainly because they often contain a lot of sugar, salt, and calories but offer little nutritional value. Eating or drinking too much of them can lead to weight gain and obesity, which has been linked to a higher risk of several types of cancer. So, while the drinks and foods themselves don’t directly cause cancer, the health problems they lead to (like obesity) can raise your cancer risk. The more you drink these unhealthy beverages, the more you are climbing the cancer ladder. So why not choose fruit juices instead? Juices that have no added syrup and are completely natural? Yes, squeezing fresh juice at home can be hard, but companies like Api Juice Ghana have made things much easier. You can simply buy from them and make a healthier choice for your body.

4. Sausages

Ghanaians are often stereotyped for loving eggs, but honestly, it seems like we love sausages even more. Think about it. Indomie with sausage, rice and sausage, jollof with sausage, bread and sausage, fried rice with sausage, and even fried yam with sausage. In the evenings, you’ll find long queues at khebab stands. And can you blame us? Sausages taste really good. However, they are processed meats that contain nitrates (A type of chemical found in tobacco products and tobacco smoke)  that can turn into nitrosamines in your body. And what are nitrosamines? Cancer-causing chemicals. The World Health Organization has classified processed meat (like sausage) as a Group 1 carcinogen, which means it’s been proven to cause cancer, especially colorectal cancer. So maybe it’s time to eat more eggs instead. They give us protein without all those extra harmful chemicals.

5. Cowhide Singed with Car Tyres 

Some Cowhide (Wele) makers use old car tyres to burn the hair off meat. It gives the meat that smoky, blackened edge we somehow enjoy, but it’s toxic. Burning tyres releases polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which are strongly linked to cancer, especially lung and stomach cancers. In fact, tests done in Ghana showed benzo[a]pyrene (a type of PAH) levels in these meats way above safe limits. This will be hard to let go because cowhide remains one of the cheapest protein Ghana. I am not asking you to avoid it or saying cowhide in itself is bad. However, the process at which it is burned is the problem.

Conclusion

It’s not about scaring you out of your favorite snacks. It’s about awareness. Once you know better, you can "chop life" and still protect it. Cancer is real, and it’s not just a "foreign disease." It starts with the small things we ignore. We need to wary of what we eat. Heath is wealth is not just a fancy saying.

Let me know in the comments which of these shocked you most and which one you just can’t let go of (yet).