Alarming Lead Levels Found in Children from Greater Accra and Northern Regions – FDA-UNICEF Study
A nationwide survey by the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) in collaboration with UNICEF has uncovered dangerously high lead concentrations in the blood of children in Greater Accra and Northern regions, signaling severe contamination risks in everyday food and cosmetic products.
The Heavy Metal Contaminant Assessment examined lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), and mercury (Hg) in items like turmeric, cereal mixes, bentonite clay (ayilor), kohl (“Kaji Kaji”), and skin-lightening creams across all 16 regions. Unbranded goods from open markets and small retailers emerged as primary culprits, lacking safety oversight.
UNICEF Nutrition Specialist Dr. Emmanuel Kyeremanteng-Amoah stressed urgency: “Ghana must align with global best practices and protect its citizens from toxic exposure. Collaborative action across government, partners, and civil society is essential to ensure every product on the market is safe and regulated.”
FDA Deputy CEO Roderick Kwabena Daddey-Adjei pledged inter-agency efforts, advising consumers to opt for FDA-approved items and use stainless steel cookware. “We’re engaging fabricators to promote safer utensils. Watch where you buy food—these are just sampled products; we’ll continue education and surveillance,” he said.
Ministry of Food and Agriculture representative Paulina Addy advocated tax incentives for stainless-steel utensil manufacturers and longitudinal studies to track progress, emphasizing a multi-stakeholder approach.
Despite the findings, Ghana lacks specific heavy-metal limits for kohl and turmeric and has no centralized product-safety database, exposing critical regulatory voids that endanger child brain development, cognition, and long-term health.
