Publication Type
Journal Article
Publication Date (Issue Year)
2023
Journal Name
Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems
Abstract
The fruit and vegetable industry remains one of Ghana’s most promising agricultural sectors mainly because of heightened awareness of the health benefits associated with their consumption. However, food safety is of ultimate concern due to the association of foodborne hazards resulting in escalation of foodborne illness. This report is a review of key foodborne hazards in Ghana’s horticultural value chain. The study identified the risk factors and hazards that contaminate fruits and vegetables in addition to existing methods for mitigating health risks and reducing pathogen levels in the produce. The study revealed that enteric pathogens such as Escherichia coli and Salmonella spp. mainly contaminate produce through fresh manure and contaminated irrigation water used during the production of vegetables. Chemical hazards identified included pesticides (organochlorine pesticides) and heavy metals such as cadmium, arsenic, chromium, and lead. Physical hazards identified included twigs, roots, sand, and stones. Washing fruits and vegetables thoroughly with potable water and sanitizing with vinegar and Chlorine solutions were among the common practices stakeholders adopted to reduce microbial levels. Soil remediation was also reported as a common approach for reducing chemical contaminants in agricultural fields. The study, therefore, recommends establishing a traceability system as well as appropriate measures and standards for hygienic practices for fresh fruits and vegetables produced and sold on the local market in Ghana. Value chain actors should be sensitized regularly on measures and interventions that can be employed to significantly reduce the levels of foodborne hazards and associated risks.
Keywords
horticultural, Ghana, risk factors, interventions
Rsif Scholar Name
Rosalyne Naa Norkor Baddoo
Thematic Area
Food security and Agribusiness
Africa Host University (AHU)
University of Ghana (UoG), Ghana
Funding Statement
The study was funded through the HortiFresh programme which was financed by the Embassy of the Kingdom of Netherlands in Ghana (grant number 4000001025). This publication was supported by the Economic and Social Research Council (grant number ES/T003871/1) under the ARUA-GCRF UKRI Partnership Program as part of the Capacity Building in Food Security (CaBFoodS-Africa) project
Recommended Citation
ESSILFIE, G. L., Lamptey, S., Baddoo, R. N., Amenorpe, G., Hevi, W., Owusu, M., & ATUPRA, F. (2023). Food safety in the horticultural sector in Ghana: challenges, risk factors and interventions. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, 7, 1173677. https://doi.org/10.3389/fsufs.2023.1173677