A new report by the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has uncovered worrying levels of heavy metal contamination in some foods and cosmetic products sold in Ghana. The National Summary Report on Heavy Metal Contaminant Assessment, conducted across all 16 regions with support from UNICEF, tested products for lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), and mercury (Hg).
The assessment covered turmeric, cereal mixes (commonly called tom brown), bentonite clay (ayilor), kohl (kaji kaji), and various skin-lightening creams and lotions.
Key findings include:
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Kohl: 77.79% contamination rate with lead, with Upper East and Eastern regions recording 100%.
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Turmeric: 42.09% contamination rate with lead, highest in Greater Accra and Central regions.
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Cereal mixes: 29% contamination rate with cadmium, notably in Northeast, Western North, and Oti regions.
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Bentonite clay: 24.62% contamination rate with lead, especially in Northeast and Greater Accra.
The FDA highlighted that unbranded items sold in open markets and retail shops were the main sources of contamination, raising significant public health concerns. However, some skin-lightening products tested in certain regions showed 100% compliance, with no mercury contamination detected.
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Deputy Chief Executive of the FDA’s Food Division, Roderick Kwabena Dadie Agyei, said new measures were being rolled out, including stricter guidelines for kohl, expanded safety checks on cereal mixes, recalls of contaminated turmeric brands, and tighter border surveillance. He also linked some contamination to food grown in illegal mining (galamsey) areas, warning that heavy metals are contributing to birth defects and chronic diseases.
“Traceability of food products is critical. We must know where these items come from so we can stop unsafe supplies,” he stressed.
UNICEF Ghana’s Health Specialist, Rev. Dr. Emmanuel Kyerematen Amoah, cautioned that even minimal exposure to lead can harm children, reducing IQ, damaging organs, and increasing risks of kidney and heart disease. He urged decisive action, saying:
“This report is not the end; it is a call to action. We owe it to our children and future generations to reduce lead in consumer products. Standards must be enforced, businesses supported to register products properly, and safer alternatives promoted.”
Story By: Afia Ohenewaa Akyerem