Shun food additives, NAFDAC warns Nigerians

For the umpteenth time, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has warned Nigerians to desist from adding chemicals to food for whatever reasons.

Its Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, gave the warning, yesterday, in Abuja, during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

She was reacting to alleged mixing of chemicals like Jatropha Curcas leaves, hypo detergent and potash with Akpu (popularly known as Fufu) to make it rise, soft and ferment.

NAN reports that such practice was allegedly done in some parts of Ondo and Ekiti states, especially in the popular Fufu Market at Oke Lisa Street, Adjacent A-Division in Akure.

The act was also alleged to be going on at Ilu-Abo, Owode, Ogbese, Igbara-Oke, Igbara-Odo, Ifaki-Ekiti, Oba-Ile, all in Ondo and Ekiti, to make more gains.

The NAFDAC boss said the agency was aware of the development, warning the perpetrators to repent. She recalled that the agency recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) where corps members would sensitise citizens to sharp practices at the grassroots.