National Summary Report on Heavy Metal Contaminants in Selected Products

Highlights

This report summarises the findings of a nationwide surveillance exercise conducted by the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), Ghana, in collaboration with UNICEF. The primary objective was to assess levels of heavy metal contaminants—namely Lead (Pb), Cadmium (Cd), and Mercury (Hg)—in selected food and cosmetic products available on the Ghanaian market. The targeted product categories were turmeric, cereal mix, bentonite clay (ayilor), kohl, and skin-lightening creams/lotions.
Samples were collected from sixteen administrative regions of Ghana and analysed using validated analytical methods aligned with Codex Alimentarius, EU Regulation 1881/2006, Ghana Standard GS 1206:2019, and WHO/FDA tolerable limits. Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS) was employed for quantification, and rigorous quality control measures ensured accuracy and reliability.

The analytical results revealed high levels of heavy metal contamination in some of the selected food and cosmetic products. Kohl products had a 74.24% failure rate for lead, with regions such as Upper East and Eastern recording failure 100% rates. Significant cadmium contamination was observed in Cereal mixes with a 29.0% failure rate. Regional disparities were noted, particularly in the North East, Western North and Oti regions, where all samples failed the cadmium safety threshold. Turmeric samples presented a 42.09% failure rate for lead, with the Greater Accra and Central regions most affected. Bentonite clay (Ayilor) exhibited a 24.62% failure rate for lead, with high levels of contamination observed in the North East and Greater Accra regions. Skin-lightening creams showed full compliance, with 100% of samples passing the test for mercury content.

The findings also highlighted that unbranded and locally sourced product (s) contributed significantly to the high levels of contamination. Most failures were traced to products sampled from open markets and retail shops, revealing notable regulatory gaps at the informal market level. These trends underscore the need for urgent regulatory interventions, especially in the local retail sectors. Recommended actions include the immediate recall of contaminated products from the market, intensification of routine market surveillance, heightened public education on the health risks associated with heavy metal contamination, and the harmonisation of national safety standards with global benchmarks to ensure more robust protection of public health.