Former Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo has issued a food safety warning over the alleged use of potentially harmful chemicals to ripen, preserve and treat fruits and vegetables sold in Nigeria.
The Osinbajo food safety warning highlights concerns that produce that looks fresh and attractive may not necessarily be safe, as chemicals could allegedly be introduced at different stages before the food reaches consumers.
Osinbajo spoke in Lagos on August 28 during the Open Day for Gardeners’ Seminar, organised around the theme, “Leaving the Earth Better Than We Found It.”
Osinbajo shares experience with orange juice
The former vice-president used an experience involving his wife, Dolapo, to explain the potential risks facing consumers.
He said she had stopped drinking carbonated beverages and opted for freshly squeezed orange juice because she believed it was a healthier alternative.
According to Osinbajo, she subsequently began experiencing unusual and persistent headaches.
He said several possible explanations were considered before a sample of the orange juice was taken to a laboratory for testing.
Osinbajo claimed that the laboratory result showed that the juice was not fit for human consumption.
He said the incident highlighted the difficulty consumers may face in identifying potentially unsafe food simply by relying on its appearance or assuming that a product is naturally healthy.
Chemicals allegedly used to treat fruits and vegetables
Osinbajo said chemicals could enter the food chain through several activities, including farming, transportation, storage and trading.
He specifically raised concerns about the alleged use of calcium carbide to accelerate the ripening and colour development of fruits.
According to him, fruits including bananas, mangoes and pawpaws, as well as tomatoes, may be exposed to such practices.
He also mentioned substances including Gamma-lin-20, Sniper, phosphide, DDT and brodifacoum in his warning.
Osinbajo described phosphide as a highly toxic fumigant and brodifacoum as a rat poison, stressing the danger of using substances for purposes for which they were not intended.
Studies cited by former vice-president
The former vice-president also referred to research which he said indicated that the use of chemicals by some fruit and vegetable sellers was a wider concern.
He cited a 2024 study involving 20 fruit sellers in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, saying half of the respondents admitted using calcium carbide.
Osinbajo also referred to research conducted in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, which he said found that 25 per cent of surveyed fruit sellers admitted using calcium carbide to accelerate ripening.
For Lagos, he cited a 2023 survey involving 50 fruit and vegetable retailers. According to him, 22 respondents admitted using chemicals to preserve their products.
He said the findings raised questions about how easily consumers can know whether chemicals have been used on produce before it is purchased.Osinbajo calls for tighter food safety controls
The Osinbajo food safety warning has drawn attention to the need for stronger oversight of chemicals used throughout Nigeria’s food supply chain.
Osinbajo called for improved regulation and enforcement to discourage the unsafe use of chemicals during farming, storage, transportation, preservation and distribution.
He also advocated increased public awareness and the availability of safer alternatives for farmers and traders who need to manage pests, preserve produce or control ripening.
Consumers, he said, also have a role in improving food safety by being more careful about the produce they buy, washing fruits and vegetables properly and reporting suspicious practices to relevant authorities.
Osinbajo maintained that government action alone would not be enough, urging communities and individuals to contribute to efforts aimed at ensuring safer food practices.
His comments have renewed concerns about the need for effective monitoring of food-related chemicals and stronger enforcement across Nigeria’s agricultural and food distribution systems.