A joint national survey by the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) and UNICEF has revealed alarming findings: children in the Greater Accra and Northern regions record the highest prevalence of dangerous blood lead levels. The report highlights a significant safety gap in Ghana’s food and cosmetics market, identifying high lead and cadmium contamination in products such as kohl, turmeric, and cereal mixes.
These contaminants pose serious threats to child development and public health. The survey, titled Heavy Metal Contaminant Assessment in Selected Food and Cosmetic Products on the Ghanaian Market, underscores the urgent need for stronger regulatory oversight and consumer protection.
It covered all 16 regions, assessing levels of Lead (Pb), Cadmium (Cd), and Mercury (Hg) in turmeric, cereal mixes, bentonite clay (ayilor), kohl (“Kaji Kaji”), and skin-lightening creams/lotions. It highlighted that unbranded products, particularly from open markets and retail shops, were the main sources of contamination. This raises serious public health concerns.
UNICEF is urging the government to update regulations, strengthen market surveillance, and increase public awareness, while aligning with global safety standards to protect citizens from toxic exposure. Dr Emmanuel Kyeremanteng – Amoah is a health specialist in Nutrition at the UNICEF.
‘‘Ghana must align with global best practices and protect its citizens from toxic exposure. A collaborative and urgent action across government, development partners, as well as civil society will ensure that every product on the Ghanaian market is safe and regulated.’’ He said. The FDA’s Deputy CEO, Roderick Kwabena Daddey-Adjei, says the Authority is committed to working with other agencies to ensure product safety.
‘We have started engaging the fabricators. Please use stainless utensils or pots to cook and protect yourself and your loved ones from lead contamination. Watch where you buy food and what you buy. Now these products are what we have been able to sample. We don’t know of the rest so we will continue to educate and create awareness. We are working with other agencies to ensure the safety of the general public is guaranteed. If possible, buy only FDA-approved products on the market.’’ He said.
Meanwhile, Madam Paulina Addy of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture has urged the government to grant a tax holiday for manufacturers of stainless-steel cooking utensils as part of efforts to encourage safer cooking practices.
She emphasised the need for longitudinal studies to monitor progress and the development of comprehensive food safety policies, stressing that a multi-stakeholder approach is essential to tackling the issue. “There should be a tax holiday for manufacturers of stainless-steel cooking utensils to promote safer cooking practices,” she reiterated.
Despite these concerns, Ghana continues to face major regulatory gaps, with no heavy-metal standards for products such as kohl and turmeric and the absence of a national product-safety database.
Source: Sarah Apenkroh
