Artificial food seasonings linked to rising cardiovascular diseases in Nigeria

A surge in artificial food seasonings and colorants, both imported and locally produced, is overwhelming Nigerian markets, raising serious safety concerns. With little to no regulatory oversight, experts are increasingly worried about the high sodium and chemical content in these popular flavor enhancers and their link to the escalating rates of cardiovascular diseases across the country.

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When I got newly married and wanted to impress my husband, I combined artificial seasonings to achieve the desired tastes. I can’t remember the name anymore, but it was for jollof rice and stew. After I finished cooking the meal and my husband had eaten, he started purging.

Millions of Nigerian households regularly use these cheap additives to enhance the taste and appearance of their meals. However, this widespread reliance is fueling fears among health professionals that excessive consumption is a significant factor behind the growing incidence of hypertension, stroke, and other heart-related ailments.

Personal testimonies illustrate the potential dangers. One woman, Mrs. Chiamaka Ndubisi, recounted how her husband experienced severe digestive issues, including purging, and a decline in sexual performance, including difficulty achieving and maintaining an erection, after consuming meals prepared with these seasonings. She stopped using them after her husband questioned the ingredients, noting an immediate improvement in their sexual health.

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Though the artificial food seasonings are nice and I like cooking with them, each time I prepare food with them, my husband complained seriously, like four different times, and he noticed that it was affecting his erection. In fact, at one point, it was affecting him that he was not having a full erection. He found it hard to get fully erect, and even on days he achieved that, he couldn’t perform optimally. He said he doesn’t feel the way he should feel, and his energy was decreasing sexually.

Another individual, Mojeed Olayinka, experienced recurrent stomach upset while staying with relatives during Ramadan, suspecting the artificial seasonings used in their cooking. These experiences underscore the growing unease surrounding the safety and health implications of these widely available food products.

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He later asked me about what I’m using to prepare our meals and told me to stop using artificial food seasonings. After I stopped it, he stopped complaining, and we noticed improvement in our sexual life.