- Study conducted by FDA with UNICEF support across all 16 regions of Ghana.
- Products tested: turmeric, Tom Brown (cereal mix), bentonite clay (Ayilor), kohl (Kaji Kaji eyeliner), and skin-lightening creams/lotions.
- Findings:
- Kohl showed 77.79% lead contamination; in Upper East & Eastern, contamination hit 100%.
- Turmeric had 42.09% lead contamination, especially in Greater Accra and Central regions.
- Tom Brown recorded 29% cadmium contamination, mostly in Northeast, Western North, and Oti.
- Bentonite clay had 24.62% lead contamination, with hotspots in Greater Accra and Northeast.
- Main cause: unbranded products in open markets lacking proper packaging and traceability.
- Positive note: Some skin-lightening creams passed safety tests (no mercury found).
- FDA response: recalls of contaminated turmeric, tighter checks at ports, stricter monitoring of kohl products.
- Underlying factor: contamination possibly linked to galamsey areas.
- Health risks: experts warn of birth defects, IQ reduction, kidney and heart diseases, especially in children.
- Call to action: FDA and UNICEF push for stronger regulation and safer agricultural practices.
Ghanaians are unknowingly consuming and using products laced with dangerous heavy metals, according to a new nationwide survey by the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA).
The report, supported by UNICEF, tested common items from local markets across all 16 regions and discovered alarming levels of lead, cadmium, and mercury in everyday foods and cosmetics.
Among the most shocking findings was traditional eyeliner “kohl” (locally called Kaji Kaji), which tested positive for lead in nearly 78% of samples. In the Upper East and Eastern Regions, every single sample was contaminated.
Turmeric, a spice commonly used in households and herbal remedies, was also flagged, with 42% of samples tainted by lead—particularly in Greater Accra and the Central Region.
Perhaps most worrying for parents, Tom Brown cereal mix, widely eaten by infants and young children, showed 29% contamination with cadmium, with the highest rates in Northeast, Western North, and Oti Regions.
Bentonite clay (Ayilor)—often used for skincare and digestion—recorded almost 25% lead contamination, largely in Greater Accra and Northeast.
FDA officials explained that most of the toxic products were unbranded and sold in open-air markets, making it impossible to trace their sources. The regulator suspects some of the contamination could be linked to galamsey activities, which pollute farmlands and water bodies with toxic metals.
On the regulatory front, the FDA has announced immediate recalls of contaminated turmeric, stricter port inspections, and tougher controls on kohl products.
While some skin-lightening creams tested were free from mercury contamination, experts stressed the bigger picture was grim.
Health risks associated with heavy metals include birth defects, brain damage, reduced IQ in children, as well as kidney and cardiovascular diseases. Reverend Dr. Emmanuel Kyerematen Amoah of UNICEF Ghana warned that even minimal exposure could cause irreversible harm, particularly in children.
FDA Deputy Chief Executive, Roderick Kwabena Dadzie Agyei, emphasized that urgent reforms were needed to stop the supply of contaminated goods. “We must address traceability and stop galamsey. These metals are poisoning our people,” he said.
The report concludes with a stark message: unless Ghana strengthens its regulatory systems and agricultural practices, the health of future generations will remain at serious risk.
