Monday, May 18, 2026 -The Lagos State Government has warned residents against the consumption of spoiled or fungus-infested tomatoes, popularly known as “Ata Esha,” cautioning that they pose serious health risks that cannot be eliminated even through cooking.
The warning was issued on Sunday by the Lagos State Consumer
Protection Agency, whose General Manager, Afolabi Solebo, urged residents to
avoid tomatoes showing visible signs of white, green or black fungal growth.
“Fungi found on spoiled tomatoes may produce harmful toxins,
including aflatoxins, which can lead to severe health complications such as
liver damage and other related diseases,” Solebo said.
He stressed that food safety should take precedence over
cost, warning consumers against buying spoiled produce simply because it is
cheaper.
“A healthy person is determined by what he or she consumes
from time to time.
“Cooking, boiling or frying contaminated tomatoes may not
eliminate the harmful toxins, thereby making such food unsafe for human
consumption,” he said.
Solebo urged residents to carefully inspect food items
before purchase and avoid any visibly mouldy or decayed tomatoes and other
perishables.
He also advised consumers to properly dispose of
contaminated food and report the sale of unsafe or expired products to the
relevant authorities responsible for consumer protection and public health.
According to him, consumers must also exercise their rights
and responsibilities by staying informed, rejecting unfair market practices and
making safer, more ethical consumption choices.
The agency said enforcement teams had been deployed across
markets in the state to identify and apprehend traders involved in the sale of
unsafe food products.
LASCOPA reiterated the government’s commitment to
safeguarding public health and ensuring that only safe and consumable food
items are available in Lagos markets.
0 Comments