The National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has raised alarmed Nigerians that food vendors now apply deadly chemicals to preserve their goods.
Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, the Director General of NAFDAC raised the alarm on Tuesday at a public awareness campaign in Bauchi.
According to Prof Adeyeye, the food vendors use formalin which is originally used to preserve dead bodies.
She also added that some others use sniper to keep flies away.
The DG cautioned that the misuse of chemicals major public health risk which could ultimately lead to death.
Adeyeye vowed that anyone caught in the act would face the full wrath of the law.
Represented by Fori Tatami, NAFDAC Director of Planning, Research and Statistics, Adeyeye also disclosed that Sniper is used to preserve kilishi in some parts of the country.
“Sniper is being misused by most Nigerians. If it dries with the kilishi, it can kill the consumer.”
The agency also announced the discovery of kerosene/fuel tankers conveying groundnut oil to markets.
“Such vegetable oil becomes contaminated and the moment people buy and use it, they will start experience serious illness and diseases,” Adeyeye warned.
NADFC appealed to Nigerians stop patronising drug hawkers and avoid meat that don’t attract flies.
“Such meats are possibly laced with dangerous chemicals that chases flies away, so Nigerians must be wary,” he cautioned.
The agency further cautioned citizens about red palm oil, explaining that some traders add a dangerous chemical ‘azo dye’ to make it reddish and appealing.
