The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), on Tuesday, organized a sensitization campaign in Kano to raise awareness about the dangers of consuming chemically-ripened fruits, adulterated meat, and contaminated grains.

The workshop, held at Gidauniya Hall of the Kano Foundation, focused on promoting food quality standards, safety regulations, and fair business practices in the food sector.

FCCPC Executive Vice Chairman, Olatunji Bello, described access to safe, nutritious, and unadulterated food as a vital pillar of public health, economic growth, and national security.

Bello, represented by the Director of Quality Assurance and Development, Dr. Nkechi Mba, noted that ensuring food safety is a shared responsibility involving regulators, manufacturers, and consumers alike.

He expressed concern over the growing trend of harmful food practices, particularly the forceful ripening of fruits with dangerous chemicals such as calcium carbide, which contains toxic traces of arsenic and phosphorus.

The campaign forms part of the commission’s ongoing efforts to safeguard consumer health and ensure compliance with food safety standards across the country.

“Adulteration of food products with dangerous additives and preservative chemicals such as bromate, Sudan red colorant, sniper and formalin.

“Improper handling and contamination across the food value chain, from farm to table such as poor storage conditions, unhygienic environment, poor waste disposal, exposure of food stuffs to flies, insects and rodents etc.

“These practices not only endanger the lives of millions of Nigerians, but they also erode consumer trust and sabotage the integrity of our food systems.

“The FCCPC, as the apex consumer protection body in Nigeria, has the statutory mandate to promote consumer interests, ensure fair market practices, and prevent exploitative or dangerous conduct in all sectors of the economy including the food and agricultural sector,” Bello stated.

The Director, Consumer and Business Education, Yahaya Garba Kudan, said the food industry-forced ripening of fruits, adulterated palm oil, contaminated meat, and grains were issues that affect, not only people’s health and well-being but also the integrity of the nation’s food supply chain.

“It is disturbing to note the increasing incidences of harmful practices in food production and processing. These practices not only pose significant health risks but also undermine consumer trust in the food industry,” Kudan said.

He noted that FCCPC was committed to protecting consumers and ensuring that they have access to safe and high-quality food, and the programme was a testament to the commission’s dedication to educating and empowering consumers, farmers, vendors, and all stakeholders involved in the food supply chain.

The programme featured experts who shared insights on how to identify and prevent the harmful practices.

“To all stakeholders present: farmers, food processors, vendors, and business owners, you are critical to the nation’s food security and health, as they say, “you are what you eat.

“Therefore, you all have the responsibility and duty of care to the public as every product you put on the shelves for consumers affects a family or a community positively or negatively. Abstain from the use of harmful substances in food processing,” the director told the participants.

The commission said it was collaborating with relevant agencies, such as National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON), Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (FMOSW), Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (FMAFS) and State and Local Government Health and Agriculture authorities to improve compliance with food safety laws and consumer rights. (The Nation)