Editorial: Are food safety standards being compromised?

According to a 2025 report by the Food and Drugs Board Authority, 55.56 percent of imported turmeric samples failed lead safety standards as compared with 41.78 percent of locally sourced turmeric.

The findings come from an analysis of 392 turmeric samples collected from open markets, retail shops, supermarkets and malls across several regions of the country.

Overall, 42.09 percent of all turmeric samples tested contained unsafe levels of lead, with 165 out of 392 samples failing.

Exposure to high levels of lead can cause serious health problems such as damage to the brain, nervous system and kidneys and developmental problems in children.

Greater-Accra recorded the highest level of lead contamination in turmeric whereby 71 of 84 samples from Greater-Accra failed, representing a 84.53 percent failure rate. Other highly affected regions include: Central Region with 75.00%, Upper West – 63.64%, Bono – 60.53%, Upper East – 58.82% and Volta – 45.45%.

Zero contamination cases were recorded in Eastern and Savannah Regions for the samples tested.

Interestingly, supermarkets and malls recorded a 91.67 percent failure rate, the highest among all retail categories – especially considering the perception that packaged products sold in supermarkets are safer than those sold in traditional markets.

These findings raise significant concerns for Ghana’s spice and food industry, particularly businesses involved in the importation, processing and sale of turmeric products.

Stricter regulatory scrutiny will be required with increased testing requirements. Contamination concerns could weaken consumer confidence in imported turmeric products.

Rising concerns over lead contamination in turmeric may affect the ability of businesses to access international markets, where food safety regulations are strictly enforced.

Indeed, these findings have prompted urgent calls for regulatory action with an expectation to initiate an immediate recall of all implicated and registered food products currently on the market.

In this regard, the ball is in the FDA’s court. In response, FDA says registration requirements for turmeric have been revised to include mandatory testing for lead.

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

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