The Nigerian House of Representatives has called for immediate investigation into the alleged use of harmful chemicals as preservatives in frozen foods sold in Nigeria.
The decision followed the adoption of a motion by Chike Okafor from Imo State, who while moving the motion, warned that the practice posed a significant threat to the health and well-being of millions of Nigerians.
According to Okafor, “the use of harmful chemicals for preservatives in Nigeria poses a clear danger to the health and wellness of millions of our citizens.” He cited reports from regulatory bodies, health experts, and media investigations that revealed the use of chemicals commonly used for embalming corpses, industrial processes, and ripening fruits to prolong the shelf life of perishable foods.
“The chemicals pose serious health risks to consumers, including the potential for developmental disorder (autism) in children, cancer, organ damage, and other life-threatening health conditions,” Okafor warned, citing the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA).
The lawmaker lamented that despite previous alerts and reports, including a 2019 alert by NAFDAC on the use of formalin on fish and meat, and a 2022 study by the University of Ibadan that found dangerous levels of pesticide residues in frozen foods, the practice persists.
“We are now facing what can only be described as the systematic poisoning of our populace,” Okafor declared, pointing to the alarming rates of liver damage, kidney failure, and autism among young Nigerians.
The lawmaker urged his colleagues to take immediate action to protect the Nigerian people from this catastrophe, emphasizing that “we cannot ignore these warnings any longer.”
