Oyo Assembly Moves Against Use Of Harmful Substances To Preserve Fruits, Vegetables, Other Food Items

In order to control hazards related to use of harmful chemical substances to preserve fruits, vegetables and other food items in the state, the Oyo State House of Assembly has called the state government through the Ministries of Health and Environment and Natural Resources to embark on serious sensitization programmes.

The House made the call during the plenary on Tuesday after the lawmaker representing Iwajowa state constituency, Hon. Anthony Ogunsola presented a motion on the ‘Need to Regulate and Control the Unhygienic and Unhealthy Preservation of Fruits, Vegetables and other Food Items by Unscrupulous Vendors’.

The motion was co-sponsored by Hon. Anthony Ogunsola, (Iwajowa) Hon. Sanjo Onaolapo (Ogbomoso South), Bamidele Adeola (Iseyin/ltesiwaju), Abiodun Babalola, (Ibadan North East I) Comforter Olajide (Ibadan North I) Olorunpoto Rahaman (Oyo East/West) and Peter Ojedokun (Ibarapa North/East).

Presenting the motion before the House, Hon. Ogunsola, who is the Chairman, House Committee on Solid Minerals, said that some vendors have undermined the importance of fruits and vegetables consumption by preserving them with chemical contaminants like formalin, calcium carbide which can lead to poisoning, cancer risks, respiratory issues, and damage to the liver, kidney, or digestive system.

“Further notes that regular consumption of fruits and vegetables lowers risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, type 3 diabetes, and certain cancers due to presence of antioxidants that protect cells from damage Generally, vitamins and phytochemicals in fruits and vegetables strengthen the immune system, helping the body to fight infections.

“Aware that despite the health benefits associated with fruits and vegetables consumption, unhygienic and unhealthy preservation of fruits and vegetables by some unscrupulous vendors in Oyo State and other parts of the country is posing serious dangers to human health. The use of chemical contaminants like formalin, calcium carbide, or excessive sulfites in fruits preservation like orange, banana, apple, mango and other fruit items which can lead to poisoning, cancer risks, respiratory issues, and damage to the liver, kidney, or digestive system. These artificial preservatives methods can trigger allergies, asthma or skin reactions which are common and rampant in our society today. In short, unsafe methods can cause fruits and vegetables to lose their freshness, flavour and natural texture, and when consumed may leave harmful residues that accumulate in the body over time and injurious to human health.

“Further aware that this harmful practice of fruits preservation is commonly found among street and road side fruits vendors within Ibadan metropolis and other parts of the State. These unscrupulous fruit vendors usually apply artificial dyes or spoilage to change the colour of the fruits, especially unripe fruits like Oranges and Bananas,” the lawmaker said.

The House urged the ministries to collaborate on workable enforcement strategies, using technology to test fruits sold at markets and roadside stalls for chemical substances, and prosecute vendors found culpable to serve as deterrent to others and nip the unpatriotic practice in the bud.

In other resolutions presented before the House, Hon. Ogunsola implored the House to set up an Ad-hoc Committee comprising members of Committees on Health, Nutrition and Food Security and Environment, Water Resources and Ecology to conduct comprehensive evaluation of fruits, vegetables and other food items preserved with harmful chemical substances by some vendors in order to safe the people of Oyo State from being exposed to life threatening diseases; and

The lawmaker also called on the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to urgently take action against all unscrupulous fruit and vegetable vendors in Oyo State especially in Ibadan metropolis using harmful chemicals to preserve fruits, vegetables and other consumable items.