The Ministry of Health has raised concern over reports that some food vendors in Kira Municipality, Wakiso District, are using Panadol tablets to cook beans and meat faster in restaurants.

The warning was issued by Ministry of Health Permanent Secretary Dr Diana Atwine during the National Cleaning Day activities in Kyaliwajjala, where she interacted with residents and inspected sanitation conditions in the area.

Dr Atwine said she was shocked after some women preparing food for restaurants reportedly told her that they add Panadol to beans and meat to reduce cooking time.

“I discovered that people put Panadol in the food to make it cook quickly. That is very dangerous,” Dr Atwine said.

She warned that consuming food prepared with medicines could expose people to unknown amounts of drugs, especially when the quantity used is not controlled.

According to Dr Atwine, Panadol contains paracetamol, a medicine that can cause serious liver damage when taken in excessive amounts.

She explained that while Panadol is safe when used correctly, taking high doses can affect the liver.

“Panadol as a drug itself, when you take high doses, it can affect your liver. It is a hepatotoxic drug,” she said.

The health official questioned what could happen to people who repeatedly consume food prepared with the tablets, especially those who eat from restaurants daily.

“Imagine if you are taking beans every day and you are taking that, we do not know even what kind of dose they put in there,” she warned.

Dr Atwine also raised concern over the burning of plastic waste in communities, saying the practice poses health and environmental risks.

During her inspection in Kyaliwajjala, she found garbage, including polythene bags commonly known as buveera, being burned near areas where food was being prepared.

She cautioned residents against burning plastics, saying the smoke produced can affect human health.

The Permanent Secretary also advised communities to improve sanitation and take part in monthly cleaning exercises aimed at keeping public areas clean.

She noted that many residents had not fully understood the purpose of the National Cleaning Day initiative because some people remained indoors instead of participating.

“What we noted here is that we really need to mobilize people. People have not understood the purpose of us cleaning and having a national day,” she said.

Dr Atwine encouraged Ugandans to join community cleaning activities held every last Saturday of the month.

She also warned businesses and households against using chemicals and other substances to speed up food preparation.

The health official specifically cautioned against substances commonly referred to as “kavela”, saying they should not be used in cooking.

“The foods they are eating in these restaurants, they are using kavela to cook, all these chemicals are going in the food,” she said.

She urged food vendors and the public to avoid putting medicines or chemicals into food, saying such practices could endanger consumers.

The Ministry of Health is expected to continue sensitising communities about food safety, sanitation and proper waste disposal.

Dr Atwine’s warning has sparked concern among members of the public, with many calling for more inspections of restaurants and food preparation areas.

Authorities have continued to remind Ugandans that medicines should only be used for their intended medical purposes and not as cooking ingredients.