Stop using chemical containers to store food, NAFDAC warns

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration Control (NAFDAC) has cautioned Nigerians to stop storing food items in containers used for chemicals, which are harmful to health.

Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Christiana Adeyeye, gave the warning, yesterday, in Onitsha, Anambra State, during a sensitisation campaign.

She said such containers contain carcinogenic substances, which no amount of washing could remove and would have harmful effect on humans in the long run.

The DG, who was represented by the Director of Chemical Evaluation and Research Directorate, Mrs. Ngozi Onuora, had led a team of NAFDAC top management officials to the palace of the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Achebe.

She explained that the three-day programme would help to sensitise youths on the dangers of taking codeine and tramadol, as well as the harmful effect of other dangerous drugs to their health.

The visit to the commercial city, the NAFDAC boss added, was to solicit the monarch’s cooperation in disseminating information on the dangers of drug abuse in the country, stressing that a well-informed society would address the demand side of drug abuse.

She called on Nigerians to stop buying medicine from hawkers but patronise approved medicine shops.

“It is harmful to use kerosene tankers to load groundnut oil, to use potassium bromate to bake bread so as to improve the dough.

“We also advise market women to desist from using chemicals to quicken the ripening of fruits like plantains and bananas because it is dangerous to health,” she said, appealing to the traditional institution to use their influence on the grassroots to help NAFDAC achieve optimal result in building a society free of drug abuse and unwholesome products.

In his response, the monarch expressed worry over increasing cases of drug abuse, particularly among youths in the state.

While describing as worrisome the rate at which the youths, and even security agents, in the area engage in the distribution, sale and consumption of illicit drugs, he appealed to NAFDAC to support him in fighting the menace. Achebe pledged to partner with the agency to ensure the ugly trend was nipped in the bud in the state.