Percy Onyeka
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has announced that it is looking into a widely shared social media post in which it is claimed that a woman used polythene-laced oil to fry plantain chips.
Sayo Akintola, the resident media consultant at NAFDAC, made a statement on Saturday stating that the organization would first evaluate the claim using a scientific method before acting.
In spite of the alarming accusation, the agency reassured the public of its dedication to protecting public health.
The viral post claims that before grinding plantain to produce chips, a woman melted roughly five pieces of “olonka rubber” (polythene) into oil.
The statement partly read, “The attention of the Management of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has been drawn to viral posts making the rounds on social media where an individual was reporting the alleged frying of plantain chips by a woman who “before she grated the plantain into the hot oil she melted about five of the white polythene what we call ‘olonka rubber’ into the oil.”
But NAFDAC noted that the post began circulating before the date the practice was supposedly observed, without indicating the geographical location.
“The agency is taking a science-based approach in her response to the alleged claim and will conduct necessary laboratory investigation into the claim. In the meantime, our advice to the public who consume NAFDAC regulated food products remains the same and centres around being vigilant as consumers,” the statement added.
It recommended Nigerians to exercise caution and vigilance when purchasing food products controlled by NAFDAC.
The organization advised the public to examine product labels for NAFDAC registration numbers and to only buy from reliable retailers.
Additionally, it issued a warning about items with dubious packaging, offensive colors or scents, or absurdly cheap costs.
“We want to reassure everyone that NAFDAC takes proactive steps to protect public health. The alarming allegation will be thoroughly investigated, the statement said.
The organization pledged to investigate the allegation’s origins and take appropriate measures in light of scientific discoveries.
Previously, buyers of fried plantains, often known as “plantain chips,” were forewarned by the Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency to be cautious of any unwholesome activities in the processing of the plantains for sale.
This is a reaction to the same online
Techrectory with Agency Report
