REPORTER: JULIET ANATUANYA
With the harvesting season of fruits and other food items here with us and farmers/ sellers trying to cash in on the opportunity to make greater sales, many have deliberately introduced unwholesome and harmful practices to make their products ready before it’s time.
In our today’s human rights, Correspondent Juliet Anatuanya examines whether or not the public have a protection against unsafe and unhealthy consumables.
Back in the days, fruits and some agricultural produce were allowed to take its natural course of ripening. But now, out of greed and quest to make quick sales, some unscrupulous farmers and traders have directly or indirectly put the health of unsuspecting Nigerians in danger through unwholesome methods of preserving and processing fruits and other food stuffs.
This practice does not only encouraged the sale of the induced ripening
fruits but penetrate the sales of contaminated food stuffs to general public.
A consumer, Mrs. Hope Agu who observed that these harmful chemicals were allegedly used in cow skin, beans and other grains listed ways of identifying a forced ripen fruits.
Despite these claims, some fruit sellers and grain dealers still maintained that they do not engage in unwholesome preservation and ripping of the goods .
What then are the authorities doing to ensure safety of consumers?
The Director, Quality Assurance and Development, Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, FCCPC, Dr. Nkechi Mba noted that because access to safe food was the right of every consumer in Nigeria, the commission does not fail to sanctioned defaulters
On the health benefits of consuming a well matured ripped fruit and the dangers inherent in the use of chemicals on farm produce, the Director, Chemical Evaluation and Research, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency NAFDAC, Dr. Leonard.Omokpariola stated that it was a ripe-off and wicked to see people engage in such unwholesome practice.
While speaking on ways to ascertain that dealers on farm produce maintain healthy procedures and standards in Enugu State, The Commissioner for Agriculture and Agro-Industrialization, in the state Mr. Patrick Uburu said government had set plans in motion to make sure dealers on these consumables adhere to global best practices in food production and preservation.
He therefore warned that government would not spare anyone who endangers the lives of the public inorder to maximize profit .
