The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has issued a chilling warning to Nigerians that millions are unknowingly consuming food laced with cancer-causing chemicals, thanks to rogue traders using banned substances to ripen fruits, preserve goods, and cut corners.
The alert came during a one-day consumer sensitisation campaign where the agency painted a grim picture of the nation’s food supply chain—from farms plagued by poor hygiene to markets teeming with adulterated products.
“Food is not just sustenance; it is a fundamental human right,” declared FCCPC Executive Vice Chairman Olatunji Bello, represented by Director of Quality Assurance and Development, Dr Nkechi Mba. “Yet we are witnessing an epidemic of dangerous practices that are poisoning our people and destroying trust in the system.”
Among the most alarming tactics: traders force-ripening fruits with calcium carbide—a chemical containing traces of arsenic and phosphorus, both highly toxic. The result? Fruits that look perfect on the outside but carry silent killers within.
Then there’s the cocktail of banned additives flooding everyday staples: bromate in bread, Sudan red dye in palm oil, formalin in fish, even sniper insecticide used as a preservative. Improper storage, exposure to flies and rodents, and unhygienic handling only compound the crisis.
“These practices don’t just endanger lives—they sabotage our entire food system,” Dr Mba warned. “The FCCPC will not stand by while consumers are exploited or poisoned.”
Backing the FCCPC’s stance, NAFDAC Assistant Chief Laboratory Technologist Evelyn Garba Pofi delivered a stark health warning: “Calcium carbide isn’t just harmful—it’s a carcinogen. It can trigger kidney and liver cancer, skin cancer, mouth ulcers, rashes, and a host of other debilitating conditions.”
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