By Baban Khalid
The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has sensitized Bauchi people on food industry-forceful ripening of fruits, adulterated palm oil, contaminated meat, and grains to curtail the harmful practices.
Speaking during the one day sensitization on Tuesday held at Double 4 International Conference centre Bauchi, the acting executive vice chairman of the commission Alhaji Adamu Abdullahi, said the program is to educate and empower consumers, farmers, vendors, and other stakeholders involved in the food supply chain to protect health and ensure the integrity of food supply in the county.
The acting vice chairman represented by Ikechi Mba, director planning, research and statistics of the commission, warmed traders against practices such as forceful ripening of fruits, the use of chemicals for grain colours and preservatives, in food oil and meant for consumption.
He said, “We have to be very careful so that when people buy goods, they get value for their money. We have to ensure that when people buy goods, they are not buying what will harm them”.
Also speaking, the director consumer and business education department of the commission, Mr Yahaya Garba Kudan, expressed his concern for the increasing incidences of harmful practices in food production and processing, saying these not only pose significant health risks but also undermine consumer trust in the food industry.
According to him, the FCCPC is committed to protecting consumers and ensuring that they have access to safe, high-quality food. He told participants that, “Food safety is one of your rights as a consumer and it is paramount to our collective health.
“We will learn about the dangers of forceful ripening, the risks of consuming adulterated palm oil, the hazards of contaminated meat, and how to ensure the quality and safety of grains.
“Our goal is to equip you with the knowledge and tools needed to make informed decisions and advocate for safer food practices in our communities,” Kudan added.
Addressing the participants on the health risks and implications of forceful ripening of fruit in the human body, the representative of NAFDAC Mr Hari Mala, said most of the fruit which are forcefully ripe can cause diseases like cancer, kidney disease and skin rashes.
Hari urged the participants to be mindful of such fruit because the chemicals used for ripening are mostly calcium carbide which is very harmful to the human body.
