NAFDAC warn against harmful food preservation practices.

Nigerians have been cautioned by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control not to engage in the risky practice of preserving food items using harmful chemicals.

Dichlorvos is a chemical that traders frequently use to prevent food from spoiling. The Agency brought attention to the risks associated with this chemical.

This change has been made in response to a report that revealed the detrimental methods fish traders use to preserve fish.

Sunday, June 2, 2024 saw the publication of the story with the headline, "Experts advocate tough measures as defiant traders use pesticides to preserve fish."

On social media, a distressing video of a trader personally applying the very lethal insecticide Sniper to protect stockfish went viral.

The video raised concerns and spurred discussions about the possible health hazards connected to the improper usage of such hazardous substances.

In an exclusive interview with our correspondent, experts urged strong legislative action to address the pervasive overuse of dangerous chemicals in food processing.

They emphasised how important it is for the government to step in and enforce current laws, such as those prohibiting the open sale of dangerous substances like sniper rifles.

According to the doctors, users face serious health concerns due to the highly toxic nature of the pesticide, which can have negative consequences ranging from nausea and vomiting to long-term organ damage and even cancer.

In response to the report, Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, the Director General of NAFDAC, stated in a statement on Sunday that the sale of large volume dichlorvos (one litre) is only permitted at accredited agrochemical outlets, while the sale of small volume dichlorvos (100 ml or less), which are sold as Sniper, has been prohibited since 2019.

In agreement with the specialists, the Director-General of NAFDAC emphasised the dangers of dichlorvos usage for human health and issued a warning.

Adeyeye asked traders and merchants to refrain from applying unapproved chemicals on food intended for human consumption in response to the widely shared video.

The overuse of dichlorvos presents serious health concerns to people, with both immediate and long-term effects. Prolonged exposure might have detrimental effects on one's health, such as aberrant development in offspring, memory loss, reduced fertility, and potential carcinogenic effects.

“These adverse effects highlight the importance of adhering to safety guidelines to mitigate the risks associated with dichlorvos exposure,” she stated.
Adeyeye proposed employing bio-pesticides as a safer substitute for dichlorvos and provided a list of substitute techniques for preserving food.

If food isn't refrigerated, it may signal pesticide contamination rather than freshness, according to her observation that food that hasn't gone bad for a long time.

The Director General revealed that NAFDAC has launched a number of initiatives, including stakeholder sensitization meetings on limiting the direct application of dichlorvos on grains and foodstuffs and extensive laboratory testing to ensure pesticide residues do not exceed maximum limits for both in-country consumption and exports. The ban on the 100 ml size bottle was announced earlier.

She also mentioned that regular stakeholder monitoring is carried out to make sure compliance.

Adeyeye guaranteed that NAFDAC would stick to international best practices going forward, which includes the phase-out of certain pesticides banned in other countries due to proven toxicity.

Acknowledging the challenges farmers face due to the ban on various chemicals, she emphasized the importance of transitioning to safer alternatives.
Regarding rumours that outlawed substances are being dumped in Nigeria, she clarified that the media has been given extensive lists to refute these claims.

Prof. Tanimola Akande, a consultant public health physician at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital in Kwara State, cautioned that eating food tainted with dangerous chemicals might cause symptoms ranging from neurological abnormalities to respiratory discomfort.

The don advocated for tougher enforcement actions and more public awareness initiatives to inform consumers and deter the use of pesticides in food preservation, while also emphasising the value of locating reliable suppliers for food products to reduce exposure to tainted goods.

Tanimola stated that the Inspectorate Unit of Veterinary Services and Environmental Health Officials, among other government organisations, must increase their surveillance and monitoring.

Similarly, Dr. Solomon Olorunfemi, a Senior Registrar in the Federal Medical Centre's Department of Community Medicine and Primary Care in Abeokuta, Ogun State, underlined the pressing need for action to stop the careless use of pesticides.

He outlined the detrimental implications on health that come with using shooters, which range from mild side effects like nausea and vomiting to more serious long-term effects including organ damage and the emergence of cancer.