NAFDAC warns Nigerians against use of Sniper for food preservation, says it causes cancer and deaths

The Nationwide Company for Meals and Drug Administration and Management (NAFDAC) has reiterated its warning to Nigerians relating to the hazardous observe of utilizing dangerous chemical substances to protect meals gadgets, emphasizing the dangers related to dichlorvos, a generally used chemical by merchants for meals preservation.

In a press release launched by Resident Media Marketing consultant to NAFDAC, Sayo Akintola, the company expressed concern over a viral video depicting the usage of harmful chemical substances, corresponding to dichlorvos, to protect meals gadgets like beans, stockfish, and crayfish.

NAFDAC emphasised that the sale of small-volume dichlorvos (100 ml or much less), offered as Sniper®, has been banned since 2019, whereas the sale of the bigger quantity (one litre) is restricted to licensed agrochemical retailers. The company underscored the toxicity of dichlorvos to human well being, warning of deadly penalties related to its use.

Director Common of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, urged merchants and retailers to chorus from utilizing unauthorized chemical substances on meals supposed for human consumption. She highlighted the numerous dangers posed by the misuse of dichlorvos, together with short-term and long-term well being implications corresponding to developmental abnormalities, reminiscence loss, lowered fertility, and potential carcinogenic results.

Dr. Rametu Momodu, Director of Veterinary Drugs and Utilized Merchandise (VMAP) at NAFDAC, reiterated that the usage of sure chemical substances, significantly pesticides, to guard grains and stop weevil infestation in beans is just not authorized. She emphasised the significance of utilizing authorized pesticides as fumigants in response to the producer’s specs, cautioning towards direct software to meals because of inherent well being hazards.

Momodu warned of the antagonistic results of consuming meals contaminated with dichlorvos, which embody dizziness, vomiting, issue respiratory, tremors, convulsions, and in extreme instances, coma and demise. She emphasised that pesticide residues stay on or within the meals even after washing, posing important well being dangers.

NAFDAC urged grain retailers, market distributors, and farmers to stick strictly to producer tips and chorus from instantly making use of dichlorvos to foodstuffs. Adeyeye emphasised the significance of different strategies for preserving meals, corresponding to bio-pesticides, as safer choices than dichlorvos.

Along with banning the 100 ml dimension bottle, NAFDAC has carried out varied initiatives, together with stakeholder sensitization conferences, laboratory testing to make sure pesticide residues are inside acceptable limits, and routine monitoring of stakeholders to make sure compliance with laws.

Adeyeye reiterated NAFDAC’s dedication to international greatest practices, together with the phase-out of sure pesticides banned in different nations because of confirmed toxicity. She emphasised the significance of transitioning to safer alternate options and inspired reporting of distributors utilizing dangerous practices to the closest NAFDAC workplace for acceptable sanctions.