By Nura Bala Ajingi
The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has raised an alarm over the increasing sale and consumption of contaminated and adulterated food items across various markets in the country.
The Executive Vice Chairman of the Commission, Dr. Olatunji Bello, made this known during a one-day consumer awareness workshop held in Kano metropolis.
Represented by the Director of Quality Assurance, Dr. Nkechi Mba, Dr. Bello said the event aimed to educate the public on the dangers of consuming artificially ripened fruits, adulterated vegetable oil, and other chemically contaminated food products.
He expressed concern over the growing use of harmful chemicals by some traders to hasten the ripening of fruits or increase their shelf life, as well as the adulteration of staple products such as palm oil and other consumables.
According to him, these practices pose serious health risks, including cancer and physical deformities.
He stressed the need for collective vigilance among consumers and food vendors to safeguard public health and promote a culture of safety in food handling.
Dr. Bello reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to intensifying similar sensitization programmes across the country to protect consumers and ensure the quality of food items sold in Nigerian markets.
He also vowed that the FCCPC would sanction anyone found guilty of tampering with food safety standards.
Speaking at the event, Umar Adamu Riruwai from the Kano State Ministry of Health and Dahiru Isma’il from the State Ministry of Agriculture highlighted the adverse effects of food contamination on human health and economic activities.
Some market leaders who attended the workshop commended the FCCPC for organizing the sensitization, pledging to put the lessons learned into practice in their respective markets.
The meeting concluded with a call on the Commission to strengthen its surveillance in markets nationwide to identify and prosecute individuals involved in food adulteration.
