A new nationwide study has revealed disturbing levels of lead, cadmium, and mercury in food and cosmetic products sampled across all 16 regions of Ghana.
The research, jointly conducted by the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) and UNICEF, examined 1,691 samples of turmeric, cereal mixes, bentonite clay (commonly known as ayilo), kohl (kajikaji), and skin-lightening creams and lotions widely used by women and children.
UNICEF health specialist Dr. Emmanuel Kyeremateng-Amoah disclosed that lead concentrations as high as 11,000 ppm (parts per million) were detected in some kohl samples—levels more than 100 times above the permissible limit of 20 ppm. He noted that unbranded, locally produced kohl products were the most contaminated, with failure rates reaching 78 percent in the Upper East and Eastern regions.
Turmeric also showed worrying results, with a 42.1 percent failure rate for lead contamination, particularly in Greater Accra and Central regions. Alarmingly, unsafe levels were found in branded, packaged turmeric sold in supermarkets and retail outlets.
Cereal mixes such as Tom Brown recorded a 29 percent failure rate for cadmium nationwide, while bentonite clay showed a 24.6 percent failure rate for lead, with the highest prevalence in the Northeast and Greater Accra regions.
Dr. Kyeremateng-Amoah explained that industrial sources—including discarded car batteries and poor handling of electronic waste—were major contributors to the contamination. He emphasized the need for a national plan to combat lead exposure and urged the media to help raise public awareness.
At the same briefing, FDA Deputy CEO Roderick Kwabena Daddey-Adjei highlighted the severe impact of lead poisoning on children, who absorb four to five times more than adults.
“Lead is toxic to children because they absorb four to five times more than adults. It affects brain development, speech, hearing, and learning, and even exposure in the womb can cause miscarriage or stillbirth. This is why a national roadmap is critical to prevent exposure and protect children across the country,” he said.
Mr. Daddey-Adjei pledged that the FDA would intensify public sensitisation campaigns and collaborate with partners to set standards and train local pot makers to avoid using contaminated materials. He also called on the public to report food safety concerns, stressing that the FDA required more resources and equipment to strengthen testing and enforcement.
Meanwhile, Paulina S. Addy, Director of the Women in Agriculture Development Directorate at the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, proposed tax incentives for manufacturers of stainless steel utensils to encourage safer food practices. She reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to work with the FDA and other agencies to tackle food safety challenges nationwide.
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