Why Nigerians should stop cutting vegetables in markets, Nutritionists

Nutrition experts are advising Nigerians to abandon the common practice of slicing vegetables in open markets before washing them, citing serious hygiene and food safety risks.

The practice, prevalent in markets and by roadsides, involves consumers asking sellers to pre-cut vegetables. Experts warn that this significantly increases the risk of food poisoning and contamination from harmful microorganisms. Furthermore, slicing vegetables in an unhygienic environment before washing can lead to the loss of essential nutrients.

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It is unhealthy to slice vegetables in the market without washing them first. First, let us look at the environment of the open market; obviously, it is unsafe.

Olusola Malomo, a registered dietician-nutritionist, described the open market environment as inherently unsafe. She explained that even if vegetables are washed after being sliced in the market, some vital nutrients are lost during the process. Comparative analysis shows that vegetables washed and then cut retain more nutrients than those cut first and then washed.

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Now, when you get home to wash them, some of the vital nutrients will escape, and you will not get the actual amount of nutrients in the vegetable. So, the nutrients are washed away with the water.

The World Health Organization highlights that unsafe food causes millions of illnesses and deaths annually, with young children being particularly vulnerable. Contaminated food can lead to a range of diseases, from diarrhea to cancer, creating a vicious cycle of disease and malnutrition.

Experts emphasize that proper food safety protocols require vegetables to be washed thoroughly under running water before any cutting or preparation takes place. This ensures that consumers receive the maximum nutritional benefit and avoid potential health hazards associated with contaminated produce.

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Some even bring these vegetables home and cook them without washing, thereby eating contaminated food. For us to eat healthily, we must wash our vegetables before slicing them.