Osinbajo Warns Against Harmful Chemicals in Food

Former Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo expressed serious concerns regarding the widespread use of potentially harmful chemicals for ripening and preserving fruits and vegetables in Nigeria. Speaking at the Open Day for Gardeners’ Seminar in Lagos on August 28, he recounted an incident involving his wife, Dolapo Osinbajo, who experienced persistent headaches after consuming freshly squeezed orange juice, which was later found to be “not fit for human consumption” upon laboratory analysis.

Osinbajo warned that consumers might unknowingly ingest chemicals used during the food supply chain. He specifically mentioned calcium carbide as a common substance used to accelerate ripening in fruits like bananas and mangoes.

Citing studies, he noted that in Ado-Ekiti, 50% of interviewed fruit sellers admitted to using calcium carbide, while in Uyo, 25% did the same. A 2023 survey in Lagos revealed that 22 out of 50 retailers acknowledged using chemicals to preserve produce.

Osinbajo stressed the importance of food safety, indicating that fresh-looking fruits may not be safe for consumption.