Shisha and all tobacco products are unsafe – FDA warns

The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has issued a strong warning that no form of tobacco is safe, not shisha, vapes, chewing gum, or e-cigarettes.

Dr. Mrs. Olivia Agyekum Boateng, Director of the Tobacco and Substances of Abuse Division at the FDA, emphasised that all tobacco products contain nicotine, a highly addictive substance, along with a cocktail of harmful chemicals.

“There is no safe form of tobacco whether you smoke it, sniff it, chew it, or inhale it through vaporizers or hookahs. They’re all harmful,” she stated during a health outreach event marking World No Tobacco Day.

She cautioned especially the youth against falling for industry tactics that repackage tobacco in trendy forms like shisha or vapes, falsely marketed as safer alternatives.

Dr. Agyekum Boateng also debunked the popular claim that shisha is harmless because the smoke passes through water.

“That’s a myth. The toxic chemicals in shisha are still inhaled and affect the lungs, heart, and other organs. They contain nicotine and other unsafe substances that cause cancer, infertility, impotence, and serious heart conditions,” she said.

She highlighted that vapes and electronic nicotine devices are just as dangerous.

The FDA has observed a shift among the youth from traditional cigarettes to newer forms like vapes and shisha, often due to misinformation.

She also called on parents to monitor their children’s online activity, as social media often promotes these products under the guise of being modern or harmless.

“Tobacco is a gateway drug,” she said. “Once young people get hooked on nicotine, it increases their risk of turning to harder substances.”

The FDA is urging a collaborative national effort to tackle tobacco use, protect public health, and safeguard future generations.