The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has suspended the manufacture of Tasty Tom Enriched Tomato Mix with immediate effect, citing major safety infractions at the production facility of Nutrifoods Ghana Limited.
In a press release issued on August 3, 2025, the FDA confirmed that the decision follows consumer complaints and an extensive investigation at the company’s manufacturing plant, which revealed significant lapses in equipment maintenance and quality monitoring systems.
The regulator said these deficiencies compromised the sealing of canned products, resulting in bloating and contamination, particularly in the 380g and 1.05kg pouch variants. Some samples were found to contain mold, raising serious health concerns.
“A market recall of all canned Tasty Tom Enriched Tomato Mix products, and specific batches of the pouches, had earlier been directed by the FDA,” the statement read.
According to the FDA, the suspension is intended to protect public health after it became clear that the plant’s poor equipment maintenance and ineffective oversight mechanisms were endangering consumers. These failures directly undermined the integrity of the food products, rendering them unfit for consumption.
More troubling, the FDA disclosed that Nutrifoods Ghana Limited had previously been barred from producing the same product as far back as January 2025. The agency has now launched an internal investigation to determine if regulatory lapses within its own oversight mechanisms allowed the company to resume operations contrary to earlier directives.
“In line with the FDA’s commitment to transparency and accountability, internal investigations have commenced to ascertain if there were regulatory lapses… Any dereliction of duty identified will be swiftly dealt with in order to strengthen the FDA’s regulatory oversight,” the statement added.
The Acting Chief Executive Officer of the FDA, Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Manso Opuni, who signed the release, urged consumers, wholesalers, and retailers to take note of the suspension and comply with all recall instructions.
The Authority reaffirmed its commitment to rigorous enforcement of food safety standards and pledged to maintain strict oversight to safeguard public health.
By Ernest Kofi Adu