The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has warned the public against harmful food in circulation that is endangering millions of lives across the country.
The commission sounded the warning at a one-day sensitisation campaign in Jos, the Plateau State capital.
Speaking at the programme, the Executive Vice Chairman of the commission, Olatunji Bello, said that they have the statutory responsibility to protect and promote the interests and welfare of consumers as well as ensure fair competition.
Represented by the Director of Quality Assurance and Development, Dr Nkechi Mba, he said food is not merely for sustenance or a commodity, but that it is a fundamental human right.
“The issues of food quality standards, safety, and fair business practices are more pressing than ever, but we continue to witness alarming trends like the forceful ripening of fruits using harmful chemicals such as calcium, which are highly toxic to humans; carbide, which contains trace amounts of arsenic and phosphorus, both of which are highly toxic to humans.
“There is also the adulteration of food products with dangerous additives and preservative chemicals such as bromate, Sudan red colourant, sniper, formalin, among others.
“Improper handling and contamination across the food value chain, from farm to table, such as poor storage conditions, unhygienic environment, poor waste disposal, exposure of foodstuffs to flies, insects and rodents, etc, is also an issue.
“These practices not only endanger the lives of millions of Nigerians, but they also erode consumer trust and sabotage the integrity of our food systems.
“The FCCPC, as the apex consumer protection body in Nigeria, has the statutory mandate to promote consumer interests, ensure fair market practices, and prevent exploitative or dangerous conduct in all sectors of the economy, including the food and agricultural sector,” he said.
In her remarks, the Assistant Chief Laboratory Technologist of NAFDAC, Evelyn Garba Pofi, said, “Using calcium carbide causes serious health challenges and health risks to the consumers. Among these health challenges are that it can cause cancer of the kidney and that of the liver, cancer of the skin, mouth problems, rashes, and a whole lot of health problems.”
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