FDA monitors withdrawal of 16 unwholesome tomato paste brands on the market

The Food and Drugs Authority, FDA, says its order for the withdrawal of some 16 brands of tomato paste from the market is being followed.

The sixteen tomato paste products which were described by the FDA as unwholesome, are said to contain starch and colour ingredients that were not indicated on the labels.

According to the FDA, these ingredients are not permitted in tomato paste, thus, violating the Ghana standards for tomato paste.

In an interview with Citi News, James Lartey, Head of Communications and Public Education at the FDA, said his outfit has not found any of the said products on the market after announcing the recall on December 16, 2019.

He however assured the public that the FDA will frequently embark on such food safety exercises to ensure that only wholesome products are on the Ghanaian market.

“The withdrawal is taking place, people are going to the markets to check. We have realized that since we gave the directive, the product has not been on the market. We are still monitoring and this exercise hasn’t ended. It is something that we will continue,” he added.

The following 16 tomato paste products were listed as unwholesome by the Food and Drugs Authority:

Alyssa Tomato Paste, Aicha Tomato Paste, Snow Red Tomato Paste, Shalom Tomato Paste, Mama and Papa Tomato Paste, Juliet Tomato Paste, Star-time tomato paste, Daily Double Concentrated Tomato Paste, and Prestige Tomato Paste.

The rest are Roi Lion Double Concentrated Tomato Paste, Richese Tomato Paste, Green Garden Tomato Paste, Rococo Tomato Paste, Nano Tomato Paste, Tasty Family Tomato Paste and Ma Bravo Tomato Paste.

Below is the full statement by the FDA announcing the recall: