Erythrosine, also known as Red Dye No. 3, is a colourant commonly used in various foods such as toffees, candies, and drinks. On product labels, it may be listed simply as "Number 3."
The Ghana Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has prohibited the use of erythrosine in the production of tomato paste due to its potential to cause various health issues. In addition, starch is also banned from being included in tomato paste formulations.
However, a study conducted by the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) on tomato paste sold in Ghana has revealed traces of both starch and erythrosine in certain samples.
Tomato concentrate, which can be either tomato paste or tomato mix, has become a popular and convenient food product in many Ghanaian homes, fast food outlets, and restaurants. It offers an affordable and quick substitute for fresh tomatoes, especially during the off-season. Over time, concerns have emerged regarding the safety of the tomato concentrate brands available on the Ghanaian market.
The study, which was conducted in Kumasi and Accra, aimed to evaluate the quality of tomato concentrates available for sale. Eight different brands, all adhering to standard labelling regulations, were selected for the study.
The researchers found that all samples displayed the typical red to dark red colour, paste-like texture, and characteristic tomato flavour, meeting the basic physical standards for tomato concentrate.
According to production guidelines, tomato paste should contain at least 24% natural tomato content. However, the study found that some of the sampled brands had natural tomato content that fell outside this recommended range.
More concerning was the detection of erythrosine in two of the samples, despite it not being listed on the labels. The study, published in the International Journal of Food Science, also reported starch content ranging from 1g/100g to 24g/100g in the samples.
In January, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) issued a complete ban on erythrosine in food products due to its potential health risks, giving manufacturers two years to remove the dye from products and stop using it altogether.
The research, led by Dr Abena Boakye from the Department of Food Science and Technology, suggests: “The Ghana FDA should not only focus on eliminating erythrosine from tomato products but also expand its regulations to include manufacturers of confectionery, candies, drinks, and other food items containing this harmful dye. These findings should prompt further research and guide policymakers on necessary steps to protect consumer health and safety in the food industry.”
The researchers also recommend that these findings be used to inform stakeholders and guide actions to ensure the availability of safe tomato concentrates and other food products for consumers in the market.
Meanwhile: The Sudanese army has announced it has broken a nearly two-year siege imposed by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on the crucial southern city of el-Obeid.
This breakthrough occurred just hours after the RSF signed a political charter in Nairobi, Kenya, to create a breakaway government in regions under its control.
Since April 2023, the RSF and the army have been engaged in a brutal struggle for power, resulting in tens of thousands of deaths and millions displaced. The war has divided the country, with the army in control of the north and east, while the RSF holds most of Darfur in the west and parts of the south.
El-Obeid, the capital of North Kordofan state, is strategically important as it connects Khartoum, the capital, to Darfur. The army's recent success follows the recapture of several areas in Khartoum from the RSF in recent weeks.
There were celebrations in the streets as Sudanese soldiers entered the city. A military spokesperson, Nabil Abdallah, confirmed the army's success, stating that it had destroyed RSF units.
Finance Minister Jibril Ibrahim called the breakthrough a "massive step" in lifting the RSF siege of el-Fasher, the capital of North Darfur, and improving access to humanitarian aid for Kordofan.
Sudanese civil society activist Dallia Abdlemoniem told the BBC that the recapture of el-Obeid was a "huge" and "significant" development. She explained that the RSF had effectively "held civilians captive for nearly two years" in the city, where the situation was described as "horrific," with no medical or food aid reaching the population in an area at risk of famine and malnutrition. Continue the story here......
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