By Nchetachi Chukwuajah
The Department of Food, Water, and Laboratory Services of the Oyo State Ministry of Health has intercepted and seized baskets of chemically-ripened mangoes during a food safety enforcement exercise at a market in Oyo Town.
It said the operation, carried out on Friday, February 6, followed a tip-off and was part of ongoing efforts to protect residents from the dangers posed by unsafe food practices.
This was contained in a statement issued by the state Commissioner for Information, Dotun Oyelade.
The statement noted that during the exercise, about 12 baskets of mangoes ripened with chemicals and prepared for sale to unsuspecting members of the public were confiscated.
Speaking during the enforcement exercise, the Commissioner for Health, Dr Oluwaserimi Ajetunmobi, warned residents to be cautious about the sources of their food.
She noted that consuming chemically preserved food could have serious long-term health implications, while expressing concern over the use of chemicals such as formaldehyde to preserve meat and other food items.
“The use of chemicals to preserve or enhance food items poses serious health risks.
“The implication is that people may consume these foods now and think they are safe, but later in life, they may develop serious health conditions, including different forms of cancer.
“Some people go as far as using formaldehyde to preserve meat, and many times when you don’t see flies around meat, it is a sign that such food is laden with chemicals,” she said.
The commissioner disclosed that the ministry had received increasing reports of sharp practices among some food vendors, including the use of hazardous substances to hasten fruit ripening.
She noted that the interception was based on credible intelligence received by the ministry.
“The mandate of the Ministry of Health is to ensure the safety and well-being of the people of Oyo State.
“Based on credible information received, our officers moved in immediately and intercepted these chemically ripened fruits before they got to consumers,” she said.
Ajetunmobi stressed that the interception served as a strong warning to those engaged in unsafe food practices and urged residents to avoid patronising suspicious food items.
She also encouraged residents to adopt home-based gardening as a way of ensuring access to safe and healthy food.
In her remarks, the Director of Food, Water and Laboratory Services, Dr Afusat Akande, confirmed that the seizure followed a report from a concerned member of the public.
Akande advised residents to watch out for uneven ripening, dark patches, and spots on fruits, stressing that small-sized fruits were often force-ripened because they were not fully mature.
