Consumer Safety: Government frowns on importation of banned tomato paste

*The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control says it has mopped up over 3,000 cartons of imported but unregistered tomato paste worth over N225 million in supermarkets and major markets in Lagos and environs

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

Despite earlier ban on importation of the product posing health challenges to consumers, the Federal Government has condemned continued  importation of tomato pastes into the West African country.

ConsumerConnect reports the government stated there has been unabated flooding of the Nigerian market with imported and unregistered tomato pastes to the detriment of local manufacturers, consumers’ health, and the national economy at large.

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) lamented that the negative development resulted from the nefarious activities of some unscrupulous businessmen, who insisted on bringing these products despite its ban three years ago.

It is recalled that the Federal Government, in 2019, banned importation of canned/tinned tomato paste, powder, or concentrate, and its tariffs were increased from five percent to 50 percent in a bid to ensure that they are properly certified by NAFDAC to certain their wholesomeness.

Barr. Kingsley Ejiofor, Director of Investigation and Enforcement Directorate, and Chairman of Federal Task Force, NAFDAC, in a statement, disclosed extensive surveillance indicated that some stores, open markets, supermarkets and community provision shops across Lagos, stock and display for sale, banned, imported and unregistered canned tomato pastes.

Banned products still in supermarkets, major markets in Lagos

Ejiofor noted the country’s health regulatory agency has mopped up over 3, 000 cartons of imported and unregistered tomato paste on the sale and/or display for sale in supermarkets and major markets in Lagos as well as its environs.

According to him, the seized products were worth over N225 million in three weeks.

The NAFDAC Investigation and Enforcement Directorate also stated that prior to the ban in Nigeria, the regulatory agency carried out a study and laboratory analysis of the tomato content of sample brands taken from the major markets in Lagos.

He said the study revealed that 91.1 percent of the imported tomato pastes were unsatisfactory.

“The ban placed on imported and unregistered canned tomato pastes should, in no small measure, curb a lot of health challenges.

“There are reports of tinned tomato pastes with more sugar content than the recommended body intake; nearly eight grammes per can, which is almost a third of what an average adult needs,” said he.

Ejiofor further noted: “Also of great concern is the high acidic nature in some of these food particles that may cause Biphenyl A (BPA) to leach out over time.

“This is especially true if the can is scratched, dented or damaged in any way and may result in an increased risk of cancer for regular consumers of the canned products.”

The Director stated that NAFDAC is not relenting in the fight against unscrupulous individuals as further investigation would be carried out and offenders who undertake these illicit acts, while making profits to the detriment of human health, would be dealt with to the full extent of the law.

Ejiofor appealed to consumers to remain vigilant, and desist from purchasing fake, unwholesome, counterfeit, and unregistered products.

He urged the public to help the agency to safeguard public health and ultimately eradicate such products from society by reporting any suspicious activity to the nearest NAFDAC’s office.

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