Osinbajo Reveals Unsafe Fresh Orange Juice Incident

During the Open Day for Gardeners’ Seminar in Lagos on August 28, 2023, former Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo disclosed that his wife, Dolapo Osinbajo, began experiencing strange headaches after switching to freshly squeezed orange juice as a healthier alternative to carbonated drinks. In an effort to identify the cause, Dolapo sent a sample of the juice for laboratory analysis, which revealed it was not fit for human consumption.

Osinbajo did not specify the detected substance but used the incident to raise awareness about the dangers posed by chemicals in Nigeria's food supply chain. He alleged that some farmers and traders use harmful pesticides, including calcium carbide, Sniper, phosphite, DDT, and brodifacoum, to ripen and preserve fruits and vegetables.

Citing studies in Ekiti, Oyo, and Lagos, he noted that a significant percentage of fruit sellers admitted to using calcium carbide and other chemicals. Osinbajo emphasized that the appearance of freshness does not guarantee safety in food consumption.