Editorial: Elevated contamination levels in locally-produced cereals disturbing

A countrywide investigation into cereal mixes by the Food and Drugs Board Authority (FDA) in partnership with UNICEF revealed, startlingly, that 30.06 percent of products on the domestic market are contaminated with unsafe levels of cadmium while 3.68 percent contain dangerous levels of lead.

This revelation raises urgent concerns about food safety, public health and future of the country’s agro-processing industry.

The 2025 study analysed 326 cereal samples taken from retail outlets across all 16 regions — Greater Accra, Ashanti, Western, Western North, Central, Eastern, Volta, Oti, Northern, Savannah, North East, Upper East, Upper West, Bono, Bono East and Ahafo.

Indeed, the study’s main purpose according to FDA was geared toward the compliance of these products with national standards for heavy metals, provide scientific data that will support development of more robust regulations, as well as test frameworks for food safety in the country among others.

The results show that cadmium contamination is widespread, with nearly one in three cereal products (30 percent) failing safety limits. Lead contamination, though lower, also remains a concern at 3.68 percent.

A key finding of the investigation is that all contaminated cereal products were locally produced, no imported cereal brands were identified in the dataset. This draws attention to Ghana’s domestic production systems, particularly small-scale and informal processors who supply a large share of the market.

Thus, analysis of cereal mix samples across regions shows a worrying prevalence of heavy metal contamination, particularly for cadmium. However, several regions including North East, Savannah and Upper West showed no recorded contamination for either lead or cadmium within the samples tested.

The presence of these metals in everyday food products raises concerns about continuous dietary exposure and pose significant risks to Ghana’s food industry.

These findings have prompted urgent calls for regulatory action from the FDA, with an expectation of initiating an immediate recall of all implicated and registered food products currently on the market.

Consequently, FDA has intensified nationwide sensitisation programmes to raise awareness about the report’s findings and health risks associated with the consumption of unregulated products.

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