By Desire Emmanuel
Residents of Lagos State have been warned against buying rotten and spoiled tomatoes and peppers that have flooded various markets in the state due to the increase in prices of the good ones.
The state government, through the Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency (LASCOPA), handed down the warning on Sunday, May 17, following the high number of residents that have resorted to buying the rotten tomatoes and peppers, popularly known as ‘Ata Esha.’
The agency said the consumption of spoiled or fungus-infested tomatoes and peppers poses serious risks which can lead to severe health complications such as liver damage and other related diseases.
The agency therefore urged consumers to avoid purchasing or consuming tomatoes and peppers showing visible white, green, or black fungal growth.
It stated that a healthy person is determined by what he or she consumes from time to time, adding that cooking, boiling, or frying contaminated tomatoes and peppers may not eliminate the harmful toxins, thereby making such food unsafe for human consumption.
LASCOPA disclosed that government monitoring and enforcement teams have been deployed to markets across the state to apprehend traders engaged in the sale of such items and other unsafe food products.
In recent times, prices of tomatoes, rodo, Bawa, tatashe, and others used to prepare soup have hit the rooftop, forcing consumers to resort to buying the ‘Ata Esha’ which are relatively cheaper and affordable.
