"Authority to intensify sensitisation, strengthen monitoring and upgrade traceability to curb 'sudan dye' adulteration" — FDA CEO

Ghana’s progress in eliminating Sudan dye from palm oil has suffered a major reversal, with the national adulteration rate jumping to 24.44 per cent in 2024.

This represents a 261 per cent rise compared to the 6.76 per cent recorded in 2023, undermining the significant gains made since the alarming 98 per cent level in 2015.

These findings were presented at a stakeholder engagement held at the headquarters of the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) to disseminate results from the 2024 nationwide palm oil monitoring exercise.

The survey evaluates market compliance by tracking the presence of Sudan dyes across production, aggregation, and retail markets.

In a speech delivered on his behalf by the Deputy CEO, Food Division, Mr. Roderick Kwabena Daddey-Adjei, FDA Chief Executive Officer Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Manso Opuni described the resurgence of adulteration as “a major setback” for national food safety.

Prof. Frimpong-Manso warned that the disturbing trend reflects a decline in vigilance among market participants and stressed the need for renewed collective action.

“The success of 2023 and the lessons of 2024 remind us that food safety is a shared responsibility,” he said, urging value chain actors to strengthen peer accountability and adopt more robust self-regulation to restore confidence in Ghana’s palm oil.

The FDA CEO disclosed that while millers and processors showed strong compliance this year, contamination was widespread at the aggregation, distribution and retail stages—particularly in major markets.

To address the growing threat, he announced that the Authority will intensify market sensitisation, enforce stricter monitoring and deploy upgraded traceability systems to protect public health and curb adulteration.

He acknowledged the cooperation of environmental health officers, market leaders and other stakeholders who continue to support the Authority’s nationwide food safety efforts.

Providing updates on enforcement, Chief Inspector Brako Isaac, Head of the Seconded Ghana Police Unit at the FDA, said joint operations with the Ghana Police Service in five major markets led to the arrest of 17 people.

Prima facie cases have been established against 12 suspects, with dockets forwarded for prosecution.

He emphasised that the crackdown aims to deter offenders rather than punish, adding that enforcement teams will continue operations in remaining markets.

Sudan dye, popularly known as “suudii,” is an industrial chemical illegally used to enhance the colour of palm oil and other foods.

It is toxic and unapproved for human consumption, posing serious health risks.

The FDA, established under Section 80(1) of the Public Health Act, 2012 (Act 851), remains committed to enforcing standards and safeguarding public health across the country’s food and consumer product sectors.

Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith