FDA Halts Production of Tasty Tom Tomato Mix Over Health Risks

The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has ordered the immediate suspension of the production of Tasty Tom Enriched Tomato Mix, following serious safety violations at the manufacturing site of Nutrifoods Ghana Limited. The action, announced on Sunday, August 3, also reinforces an earlier recall directive covering all canned products and specific pouch batches of 380g and 1.05kg.

This decision comes in response to mounting consumer complaints and a subsequent investigation into the company’s operations. FDA inspectors uncovered major lapses, including poor maintenance of essential machinery and inadequate quality monitoring systems. These deficiencies were found to have compromised the safety and quality of the tomato mix, especially the canned versions, where defective sealing led to contamination.

Reports of bloated pouches and the presence of mould in some units further raised alarm over the potential health risks to consumers. The FDA described the situation as a public health concern and moved swiftly to suspend production and initiate the removal of the affected products from the market.

Nutrifoods Ghana had already faced a manufacturing ban on the same product earlier in January 2025, raising concerns about regulatory compliance and the enforcement of previous directives. In light of this, the FDA has launched an internal review to assess whether any oversight lapses occurred within its own regulatory systems.

Retailers, distributors, and consumers have been advised to adhere strictly to the recall directive. Consumers in possession of affected products are urged to return them to their point of purchase and report any adverse health experiences.

Nutrifoods has confirmed compliance with the recall instructions and is in the process of retrieving the specified product batches from distribution channels.