Over 30% of locally produced cereal contaminated 

By Christabel DANSO ABEAM  ([email protected])

A nationwide investigation into cereal mixes by the Food and Drugs Board Authority (FDA) in partnership with UNICEF has revealed 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 report 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.

According to FDA, the study was to assess the compliance of these products with national standards for heavy metals, provide scientific data that will support development of more robust regulations and testing frameworks for food safety in the country and raise awareness among stakeholders about the risks of heavy metal contamination in food and cosmetics and its impact on public health.

Scope of the findings

The results show that cadmium contamination is widespread, with nearly one in three cereal products (30 percent) failing safety limits.

Lead contamination, though lower, remains a concern at 3.68 percent.

However, mercury was not detected in any of the cereal samples tested.

Local products dominate contamination

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 finding draws attention to Ghana’s domestic production systems, particularly small-scale and informal processors who supply a large share of the market.

Branded vs unbranded cereals

The study underscores a clear difference in contamination levels between branded and unbranded products.

For cadmium, 39.56 percent of unbranded cereals failed the test while 24.78 percent of branded cereals failed. For lead, 4.04 percent of unbranded cereals failed and 4.42 percent of branded cereals also failed.

Regional variations

Analysis of cereal mix samples across regions shows a worrying prevalence of heavy metal contamination, particularly for cadmium.

Of a total 326 samples analysed nationwide, cadmium recorded the highest failure rate at 28.22 percent while lead accounted for 3.68 percent. Mercury contamination was not detected in any of the samples.

Regionally, cadmium contamination was most severe in the Oti and Northern Regions with possible failure rate of 100 percent, although based on relatively smaller sample sizes. Eastern Region also recorded 96.97 percent of sampled failure.

Ashanti Region also posted a high failure rate of 58.33 percent, followed by Bono at 15.63 percent.

Lead contamination, although lower overall, was present in several regions. Eastern Region recorded the highest lead failure rate at 9.09 percent, followed by Greater Accra at 8.33 percent and Central Region at 7.41 percent. Other regions, including Ashanti and Bono, recorded no lead contamination.

Several regions, including North East, Savannah and Upper West, showed no recorded contamination for both lead and cadmium within the samples tested.

Overall, the data points to cadmium as the most significant contaminant in cereal mixes.

Health concerns

Cereal mixes are widely consumed in Ghana, especially by infants and young children. The presence of these metals in everyday food products raises serious concerns about continuous dietary exposure.

Economic and industry impact

The findings pose significant risks to Ghana’s food industry. Producers may face tighter regulation, increased testing requirements and possible loss of consumer confidence. Businesses dealing in cereal products could also see rising costs as they work to meet safety standards.

There are also implications for trade. Concerns about contamination could affect Ghana’s ability to compete in international markets, where food safety standards are strictly enforced.

Actions being taken

The 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.

In response to the elevated contamination levels, FDA said registration requirements for cereal mixes have been revised to include mandatory testing for cadmium, while the Ghana Standards Authority has been formally notified to incorporate cadmium parameters into national cereal mix standards.

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

Furthermore, investigations are expected to be undertaken to identify the sources of contamination and guide the implementation of targetted regulatory interventions aimed at safeguarding public health and safety.

Additionally, efforts are being stepped up to strengthen border controls and market surveillance – particularly for high-risk food products – to prevent further exposure and ensure compliance with safety standards.

The post Over 30% of locally produced cereal contaminated  appeared first on The Business & Financial Times.

Read Full Story