Assessing Baby Food Labelling Compliance with the Food and Drug Authority Standards in Ghana

Vicentia Dapaah; Oscar Agyemang Opoku; Samuel Sebe Mensah

doi:10.56741/IISTR.jphs.001135

Authors

Vicentia Dapaah University of Education
Oscar Agyemang Opoku
oscarthesis@gmail.com
University of Cape Coast https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5665-5685
Samuel Sebe Mensah University for Development Studies

Keywords:

Baby Food Products, Food and Drug Authority, Food Labelling Compliance, Manufacture

Abstract

The literature is silent about labelling compliance by manufacturers of baby food as required by the Food and Drugs Law, 1992, and specified by the Ghana Food and Drug Authority (FDA), as compared to other facets such as consumer attitude and knowledge about food labelling, factors that influence consumers on food labelling. This study evaluated the degree to which infant food manufacturers in Ghana adhere to the requirements set forth by the FDA on food labelling. The study used a quantitative approach, where a checklist was used to gather data from 104 baby food products in various channels such as stall/shops, supermarkets, and malls in Kumasi. With SPSS software, the data were analysed using frequencies and percentages as well as the chi-square test. The study found that more foreign companies were involved in the manufacturing of baby food products in the Ghanaian market as compared to the local manufacturers. Baby food manufacturers highly comply with the FDA standards regarding food labelling. Also, there was a significant difference between foreign baby food producing companies and their compliance level with FDA standards and that of local baby food producing companies and their compliance level with FDA standards in Ghana. More foreign companies comply highly with food labelling. Therefore, monitoring and inspection team of the FDA should intensify their monitoring and inspection activities, especially, among the locally baby food producers. Moreover, the FDA, in collaboration with the association in charge of baby food producers, should organise annual meetings to sensitize the companies about the essence of food labelling and its effect on the consumer.

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Author Biographies

Vicentia Dapaah, University of Education

is a researcher affiliated with the University of Education, Winneba, Ghana. Her research interests include food safety, nutrition, food labelling, consumer protection, and public health. She focuses on assessing compliance with food regulatory standards, particularly labelling requirements for infant and young child food products. Her work seeks to improve nutritional information, strengthen consumer awareness, and support evidence-based approaches to food quality and national regulatory compliance in contemporary Ghana. (email: vicential10@gmail.com).

Oscar Agyemang Opoku, University of Cape Coast

is a geography scholar, development planning officer, and researcher with expertise in qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-methods research. His methodological skills include thematic analysis, regression, and structural equation modelling. His research interests encompass health geography, economic geography, development planning, climate change, disaster risk reduction, project management, and business management. He also serves as a reviewer for peer-reviewed and Scopus-indexed academic journals internationally, across diverse public health challenges. (email: Oscar.opoku@stu.ucc.edu.gh).

Samuel Sebe Mensah, University for Development Studies

is a researcher affiliated with the University for Development Studies, Ghana. His research interests include food science, nutrition, food regulatory standards, consumer safety, and public health. He studies food labelling compliance and the role of accurate product information in consumer protection. His scholarly work seeks to strengthen food safety practices, inform regulatory enforcement, and promote informed nutritional decisions, particularly concerning food products for infants and young children. (email: samuelmensah1@gmail.com).

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