Osinbajo warns of widespread use of chemicals to ripen and preserve produce

Former Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo has warned that fruits and vegetables that look fresh may not be safe to eat because of chemicals allegedly used along Nigeria’s food supply chain.

Speaking at the Open Day for Gardeners’ Seminar in Lagos on Aug. 28, Osinbajo recounted an experience involving his wife, Dolapo. After switching from carbonated drinks to freshly squeezed orange juice, she developed unusual and persistent headaches. He said other possible causes were ruled out before a batch of the juice was sent to a laboratory.

“The results came back. It showed that the freshly squeezed orange juice was not fit for human consumption,” Osinbajo said. He presented the incident as an example of the risks consumers may face when chemicals enter food during production, preservation or distribution.

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The results came back. It showed that the freshly squeezed orange juice was not fit for human consumption.

Osinbajo said some farmers use potentially dangerous pesticides, while some traders allegedly use chemicals to speed up ripening or extend the shelf life of produce. He specifically named calcium carbide, which he said was allegedly used to force bananas, mangoes, pawpaws and tomatoes to ripen and change colour quickly.

He cited a 2024 study in Ado-Ekiti involving 20 fruit sellers, saying half admitted using calcium carbide. He also referred to a study in Uyo that found 25% of surveyed sellers admitted using it, and a 2023 Lagos survey of 50 fruit and vegetable retailers in which 22 acknowledged using chemicals to preserve produce.

“The fact that fruit looks fresh doesn’t mean that it is safe. And the fact that a drink is natural doesn’t mean that something dangerous has not been added to it along the way, especially along the journey from the farm to the table,” he said. Osinbajo said the findings called for greater scrutiny because consumers may not be able to determine whether chemicals were used before the food reached them.

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The fact that fruit looks fresh doesn’t mean that it is safe. And the fact that a drink is natural doesn’t mean that something dangerous has not been added to it along the way, especially along the journey from the farm to the table.