…Quest for fast achieve driving unethical, dangerous practices
…Fruit sellers pressure gadgets to ripe unnaturally
…Dangerous gadgets added to meals gadgets to reinforce amount
…Regulatory oversight minimal as companies appear overwhelmed
The Nationwide Company for Meals and Drug Administration and Management (NAFDAC) and different regulatory companies have an infinite activity to sanitise the meals market in Nigeria.
Nigerians are merely consuming loss of life within the title of meals each day, as growers and retailers are adulterating each meals merchandise in an effort to make further achieve.
Additional time, folks use carbide to false fruits to ripe, some add a whole lot of issues to palm oil and different meals gadgets to extend quantity; whereas some protect meals gadgets with dangerous chemical compounds for financial positive factors. The checklist is infinite.
The tip product is that persons are each day having unexplained well being challenges, a lot of that are traceable to meals they consumed.
There’s a well-liked quote amongst Nigerians that claims “we’re what we eat.” Now, the query is, who will save Nigerians?
“What we eat right now shapes our well being tomorrow,” mentioned Iyabo Christianah Oladipo, professor of Meals and Industrial Microbiology, Division of Science Laboratory Know-how, College of Pure and Utilized Sciences, Ladoke Akintola College of Know-how (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, Oyo State.
In response to her, defending the meals value-chain from unsafe chemical compounds just isn’t non-obligatory; however a vital obligation for stakeholders.
Over time, the up to date meals provide chain has witnessed an growing development of unauthorised chemical functions in meals processing and preservation, notably in creating areas.
Equally, analysis has additionally proven that meals provide is more and more related to diet-related illnesses, toxicity, most cancers, and different well being harms, partly attributable to a loophole in federal legislation that enables the meals trade to self-regulate and decide which substances to categorise as “usually recognised as secure” (GRAS).
This phenomenon extends globally, with casual meals markets regularly using unapproved components to reinforce product look and prolong shelf life.
In markets throughout Nigeria and lots of components of the creating world, meals is more and more being altered not by nature or correct processing, however by chemical compounds added to enhance look, velocity up gross sales, or enhance revenue.
Learn additionally: Adulterated fertiliser threatens Nigeria’s food security
These practices are sometimes hidden from customers and justified as preservation, but most of the substances used are unsafe, unapproved, or wrongly utilized.
The result’s a rising risk to public well being and confidence in our meals system. “Training is essential to ending dangerous practices that prioritise revenue over well being,” Oladipo mentioned.
She added that meals security is everybody’s duty. In response to her, regulators should implement requirements, whereas merchants should abandon unsafe shortcuts, and customers should keep knowledgeable and cautious.
Femi Oke, president, All Farmers Affiliation of Nigeria (AFAN), Lagos Chapter, mentioned many merchants lower corners in a bid to earn more money, believing such practices will enhance their income.
Nonetheless, these actions come at a grave value to public well being. In response to Oke, defending lives should take priority over revenue.
“We’re working to sensitise merchants on the hazards and long-term penalties of utilizing dangerous chemical compounds, as these substances are unsafe for human consumption,” Oke mentioned.
Meals colouring usually serves to enhance the visible and aesthetic enchantment of meals merchandise, and typically as a type of identification with out having something to do with preservation.
Preservatives are one other group of meals components which serve the first goal of enhancing the shelf-life of meals merchandise, normally by stopping oxidation and microbial development.
Elijah Adegoke Adebayo, a professor of Industrial Microbiology, Ladoke Akintola College of Know-how (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, mentioned using alum in enhancing the bodily and purposeful properties of cassava, and cassava starch has been studied with optimistic outcomes, and in addition in some business functions.
Nonetheless, that is carried out in a managed atmosphere and numerous analyses on the amount of alum used, the time of addition, and different preparation procedures are carried out to make sure security and forestall toxicity.
Conventional addition of alum (and different chemical compounds) in cassava preparation with out applicable toxicity evaluation may pose extreme dangers and risks to customers.
The addition of azo dyes (probably the most widespread meals colouring brokers) to palm oil has additionally been related to ROS manufacturing, posing a extreme threat to customers.
“Pure approaches to meals preservation stay one of the best methods: Freezing, drying, fermentation, pasteurisation, and salting,” Adebayo mentioned.
In response to him, these approaches assist to forestall/restrict microbial development and oxidation with out much less toxicity dangers.
He added that fermentation serves to protect meals whereas additionally enhancing the flavour, and dietary profile of the meals product.
Results of unapproved chemical compounds in meals
Meals is supposed to nourish the physique, however when chemical compounds not permitted for meals use are launched, it may well develop into a supply of hurt.
Equally, unapproved components might include poisonous metals, industrial residues, or compounds that accumulate within the physique over time.
“Steady publicity, even in small quantities, can result in organ injury, hormonal disruption, weakened immunity, and elevated threat of continual diseases,” Oladipo mentioned.
Chemical adulteration in meals merchandise is usually pushed by look in casual meals markets.
Whereas vivid colors, unnatural whiteness, or uniform ripening give consumers a false sense of freshness and high quality, even when the meals is outdated, diluted, or poorly processed.
Why misuse of components is a meals security concern
In response to meals exports, not all components are harmful. Nonetheless, security is determined by correct approval, right dosage, and applicable use.
When chemical compounds meant for textiles, farming, or industrial processes are added to meals, security limits are ignored.
“There isn’t any high quality management, no monitoring, and no assurance that the meals is secure for long run consumption,” Oladipo mentioned.
In response to her, utilizing chemical compounds to disguise spoilage or poor processing additionally undermines the meals worth chain. “Customers are deceived, sincere merchants are deprived, and public belief in native meals declines,” she added.
Learn additionally: The economics of adulterated palm oil in Nigeria
The hazards of unnatural ripening
Naturally ripened fruits develop flavour, aroma, and vitamins by organic processes.
When fruits are compelled to ripen utilizing chemical compounds, they could look ripe on the skin however stay immature inside. “Such fruits usually spoil quicker and lack important vitamins,” says Oladipo.
Nonetheless, Adebayo mentioned forcing fruits to ripe unnaturally can serve to negate the benefits of consuming fruits.
“Fruits which naturally would act as antioxidants in regulating oxidation in numerous cells fairly trigger a rise in ROS manufacturing.”
In response to him, the ingestion of such merchandise additionally exposes the patron to numerous toxins amassed because of the factitious ripening course of.
Nonetheless, Oladipo added that repeated consumption of chemically ripened fruits has been related to digestive discomfort, kidney stress, and different well being complaints. “Susceptible teams comparable to kids, pregnant ladies, and the aged are at greater threat,” she mentioned.
Components, colouring, and the parable of preservation
There’s a widespread perception that chemical compounds used to color meals additionally assist protect it. “That is largely false,” mentioned Oladipo.
In response to her, colouring brokers don’t stop microbial development, toxin formation, or spoilage. “They solely enhance look and conceal defects.”
As an illustration, including dye to palm oil doesn’t enhance its stability or dietary worth. Identical means including alum to cassava flour doesn’t stop fermentation or contamination.
“These practices solely masks underlying high quality issues and create a false sense of security,” Oladipo mentioned.
Whereas a few of these components may not be dangerous, utilizing them for unapproved functions raises concern on the security nature of our meals value-chain.
“Using components is strongly regulated in meals merchandise, requiring focus limits, clear disclosure, and ample toxicity and long-term security testing earlier than use,” Adebayo mentioned.
In response to him, the security evaluation of an additive in a particle meals product doesn’t render it secure to be used in all meals merchandise and meals supplies.
Safer methods to protect meals whereas staying near nature
Correct meals preservation focuses on controlling moisture, temperature, and microorganisms, not on altering color or texture artificially.
In response to Oladipo, conventional strategies comparable to fermentation, drying, smoking, and correct cooking stay efficient when carried out accurately.
She added that fermentation of cassava reduces pure toxins and improves security. However, drying grains correctly reduces mould development. Whereas smoking fish with clear strategies limits spoilage.
“Trendy science additionally helps safer methods comparable to managed warmth therapy, pure preservatives, and improved storage circumstances. Preservation ought to defend meals, not disguise its decline,” she mentioned.
Regulatory oversight
NAFDAC, mandated to control and management the manufacture, importation, exportation, commercial, distribution and use of meals and medicines, faces a frightening problem.
Whereas the company has repeatedly warned towards meals adulteration and using hazardous chemical compounds for meals preservation and ripening, enforcement stays uneven, notably in open markets dominated by casual merchants.
Restricted manpower, funding constraints and the sheer scale of Nigeria’s casual financial system complicate routine inspections and sustained monitoring.
Past NAFDAC, different regulatory and enforcement our bodies even have essential roles to play.
The Requirements Organisation of Nigeria (SON), state ministries of well being, shopper safety councils, and native authorities market authorities are all a part of the ecosystem required to make sure meals security.
Nonetheless, weak coordination amongst these establishments usually creates regulatory gaps being exploited by unscrupulous merchants.
Client consciousness is one other weak hyperlink. Many consumers prioritise look and worth, unknowingly rewarding merchants who use unsafe strategies to make merchandise look brisker or extra enticing.
With out ample public schooling, demand-side strain for secure meals stays restricted, decreasing the deterrent impact of laws.
To successfully sanitise the general public meals house, regulatory companies should undertake a multi-pronged strategy. This contains intensified market surveillance, stiffer penalties for offenders, and nearer collaboration with market unions to implement self-regulation.
Routine, seen enforcement actions can function deterrence, whereas cell testing items may assist detect adulterated merchandise on the spot. Equally vital is sustained public schooling to assist customers determine warning indicators of adulteration and perceive the well being dangers concerned.
Guaranteeing meals security in Nigeria’s markets just isn’t solely a regulatory burden; it’s a public well being crucial. As financial pressures push merchants to chop corners, the duty on NAFDAC and allied companies grows heavier.
With out decisive and coordinated motion, unsafe market practices will proceed to thrive — quietly transferring the price of profit-seeking from merchants to the well being of the Nigerian public.
