Ghana’s Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has officially suspended the production of Tasty Tom Enriched Tomato Mix, citing serious quality control failures at the manufacturing facility of Nutrifoods Ghana Limited.
The announcement, made on August 3, follows a wave of consumer complaints and a subsequent FDA investigation that revealed a string of troubling findings. The situation, according to the Authority, posed significant public health risks, prompting not only the suspension of manufacturing but also a market recall of all canned Tasty Tom Enriched Tomato Mix products. The recall also targets specific batches of the product in pouches, notably the 380g and 1.05kg packs.
“The lapses at the manufacturing plant affected the integrity of the canned products by compromising the sealing mechanisms,” the FDA revealed in its official statement, “leading to contamination and bloating of the products in pouches.”
Mold contamination was also discovered, further amplifying safety concerns.
The core issue, according to the FDA’s findings, resulted from poor maintenance of essential equipment and inadequate monitoring systems, two key safeguards in food production that were either overlooked or completely failed. These conditions caused compromised packaging, spoilage, and contamination with some affected products even showing signs of mold growth.
What raises additional concern is the regulatory history between the FDA and Nutrifoods. The company had already been barred from producing the product as far back as January 2025. The FDA has since launched an internal investigation to determine whether regulatory lapses within its ranks allowed production to continue despite the earlier ban.
“Any dereliction of duty identified will be swiftly dealt with to strengthen the FDA’s regulatory oversight,” the statement emphasized.
The FDA has urged all consumers, wholesalers, and retailers to immediately cease the sale or distribution of the product and follow the recall instructions. The Authority says it remains committed to protecting public health through strict enforcement and transparent oversight.
“We will continue to exercise rigorous oversight under our mandate to protect public health and safety,” the Authority assured.
This incident comes at a time when public trust in food regulation is being put to the test, with consumers increasingly demanding accountability from both producers and regulators. Many have taken to social media expressing shock that a brand as widely consumed as Tasty Tom could fall short on such basic safety protocols.
For further inquiries, the FDA encourages the public to reach out via its official communication channels.
