*The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control declares the practice has affected health of several Nigerians, but Youth Corps members will educate consumers at the grassroots

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

In safeguarding the health of Nigerians, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has cautioned consumers to desist from the habit of adding chemicals to foods.

Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, Director-General of NAFDAC, issues this warning Monday, May 16, 2022, in Abuja, FCT, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria.

Adeyeye reacted to the alleged mixing of chemicals, such as Jatropha Curcas leaves, hypo detergent and potash with Akpu, also known as Fufu, to make the foodstuff rise, be soft and ferment.

Recall it was in the news recently, that food makers in some parts of the West Africa country have been engaging in the harmful practice.

Such practice was reportedly done in some parts of Ondo and Ekiti states, especially in the popular Fufu Market on Oke Lisa Street, Adjacent A-Division in Akure, Ondo State capital, agency report said.

The practice was also said to be alive at Ilu-Abo, Owode, Ogbese, Igbara-Oke, Igbara-Odo, Ifaki-Ekiti, Oba-Ile, all in Ondo and Ekiti, to make more gains in the process.

The NAFDAC Director-General also disclosed that the health regulatory agency was aware of the alleged practice and warned those indulging in the act to desist henceforth.

The agency recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) where Corps members would be made to sensitise citizens on such practices at the grassroots, Adeyeye stated.

She further said: “It is true what some people do, but it is not all Fufu that have hypo-chloride in it.

“This is why the engagement of the Corps members is necessary, to explain to the people that they don’t need to add any chemical, except salt and sugar, and must also be minimised.

“Too much salt could cause hypertension later-on in life, too much sugar, you are playing with diabetics, you don’t have to put chemical on food to make it to rise or whatsoever reasons.”

The Director-General also noted: “Fufu has been an ancient food and chemical had never been added to it.

“I don’t know what these people actually mean, may be to make it to rise or soften it, this has affected so many people’s health.

“But the NYSC will be at hand to educate the people.”