Nearly two months after the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) issued a recall for Grand Chateaux Sangria Forte, the unregistered alcoholic drink remains widely available across pubs, shops, and drinking spots in parts of Ghana.
A visit to some outlets shows the drink is still being stocked and sold openly, raising concerns about regulatory enforcement.
The Grand Chateaux Sangria Forte, particularly the 250ml Tetra Pak and 330ml canned Pétillante versions, was flagged by the FDA in March for safety and regulatory issues. Despite this, demand remains strong.
Some sellers say they are simply responding to consumer interest. With a shortage of popular beer brands on the market, customers are turning to alternatives, including the recalled Sangria product.
“Customers purchase the Grand Chateaux Sangria Forte drink, that one and the Coffee Ram move,” a shop owner said during a casual conversation.
The FDA’s March 19 notice warned that the Sangria variants in question were not registered and were being promoted on social media without proper authorisation.
But so far, there has been little sign of active enforcement to remove the drinks from circulation.
This has raised questions about how seriously such recall notices are taken, especially when sellers feel confident enough to continue business as usual.
As consumers continue to buy and sellers continue to stock, the lingering presence of the banned drink casts a spotlight on the FDA’s ability to follow through on its own safety warnings.