The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) is still warning Nigerians about using dangerous chemicals to preserve food items.
The agency, this time around, has emphasized the dangers associated with dichlorvos, a chemical used by traders to safeguard food from spoilage.
NAFDAC said the sale of small volumes of dichlorvos (100 ml or less), sold as Sniper has been banned since 2019 while the sale of the large volume (one liter) is limited to certified agrochemical outlets.
In a statement signed by the Resident Media Consultant, Sayo Akintola, the agency underscored the toxicity of dichlorvos to human health, cautioning that its use can have fatal consequences.
In response to a viral video showing individuals using dangerous chemicals to preserve food items like beans, stockfish, and crayfish, NAFDAC’s Director General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, urged traders and merchants to desist from using unauthorized chemicals on food meant for human consumption.
“The misuse of dichlorvos poses significant risks to human health, manifesting in both short-term and long-term consequences,” she said.
Long-term exposure, according to Prof. Adeyeye, can result in severe health implications, including developmental abnormalities in offspring, memory loss, reduced fertility, and potential carcinogenic effects.
“These adverse effects highlight the importance of adhering to safety guidelines to mitigate the risks associated with dichlorvos exposure.”
The Director of Veterinary Medicine and Applied Products (VMAP), Dr. Rametu Momodu, on her part, restated that using certain chemicals, especially pesticides, to protect grains and prevent beans from having weevils is not an approved practice.
