Food Research Scientists at the Department of Food Science and Technology of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) have detected a harmful banned substance in some tomato pastes sold on the Ghanaian market.
A study by food scientists from the KNUST on tomato paste sold in Ghana found traces of both starch and erythrosine in some samples.
The substance, Erythrosine, also known as Red Dye No. 3, is used as a colourant in various foods, including toffees, candies, and drinks.
It may be labelled and appear on these products, as “Number 3.”
However, the Ghana Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) does not permit the substance to be used in the production of tomato paste.
This is because Erythrosine has been found to cause various health conditions and is not allowed in tomato paste production.
The research, led by Dr. Abena Boakye of the Department of Food Science and Technology, of the university urged the Ghana FDA not to focus only on removing erythrosine from tomato products, but also extend its regulations to include the removal of the substance from confectioneries, candies, drinks, and other food products containing this harmful dye.
She also recommended that the findings be used to inform stakeholders and guide necessary steps to provide safe tomato concentrates and other food products for consumers on the market.
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