The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has issued a strong warning to the public against consuming two unregistered alcoholic beverages thus Kings Orange Flavoured Liqueur and Jupiter 1990.

According to a press statement signed by the Chief Executive Officer of the FDA, Mrs Delese Mimi Darko, these products have been found to contain marijuana (cannabis) extracts and are deemed unsafe for human consumption.

The drinks were suspected to be illegally produced by FAMUDE Catering Services, based in the Ashanti Region. 

However FDA has emphasised that these products were not only unregistered but were being produced and distributed in violation of national food and drug safety regulations.

Background

Kings Orange Flavoured Liqueur was initially registered with the FDA in 2022. During a routine market surveillance and laboratory testing exercise in July 2023, the product was found to contain traces of cannabis. 

In response, the FDA shut down the FAMUDE facility, revoked its operating license, and handed the case over to the Suntresu District Police for investigation and possible prosecution as well as working in collaboration with the Drug Law Enforcement Unit (DLEU) of the Ghana Police Service and the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) to monitor the situation and prevent further violations.

In April 2025, the FDA received intelligence suggesting that Kings Orange Flavoured Liqueur was still being sold in Koforidua. This led to the discovery of a new unlicensed production site. On April 30, 2025, a joint raid was carried out at Jachie Abidjan Nkwanta, where authorities discovered bags and parcels of dried marijuana labels for Kings Orange Flavoured Liqueur and an additional unregistered product, Jupiter 1990.

In the statement, laboratory analysis confirmed that both alcoholic drinks contained marijuana extracts. All seized items were handed over to the Central Police Command in Kumasi for further investigation.

Health warning

The FDA warns that Kings Orange Flavoured Liqueur and Jupiter 1990 are illegally produced and potentially harmful. The public has been advised to immediately stop the sale and consumption of these products. Retailers and wholesalers are instructed to return any remaining stock to the nearest FDA office.

The statement further urged consumers to avoid these products entirely, as ingesting them could lead to serious health consequences, including irreversible liver and kidney damage.