8/27/2004 PANAFRICAN NEWS AGENCY (PANA) DAILY NEWSWIRE - Accra, Ghana -The Ghana Foods and Drugs Board has warned exporters of palm oil to desistfrom mixing the commodity with chemicals injurious to the health ofconsumers.

Ben Botwe, deputy chief executive of the board, said a probe was underwayto determine how various grades of palm oil exported from Ghana toEuropean Union markets were found adulterated with chemicals noted forcausing problems to foetus and cancer in the human body.

"The FDB has the lists of all brands that were affected and investigationsare ongoing to find out the people who are behind the act," he said.

Ghana earned some US$3 million from palm oil exports last year.

Botwe said apart from the health implications, the practice had a negativeimpact on the country's non-traditional export.

He disclosed that the FDB was collaborating with other agencies to ensurethat palm oil exported from Ghana was devoid of foreign matters.

The Ghana Exports Promotion Company has said exporters could be victims ofa criminal scheme as they buy the oil from several sources beforepackaging it for export.