Editorial Feature

The National Orientation Agency (NOA) warns against using chemicals for food preservation

The National Orientation Agency (NOA) Kano State office has urged fruit, grain, and vegetable sellers to stop using chemicals for food preservation.

The Acting State Director of NOA Kano, Alhaji Rabiu Ado, made this call during a public awareness campaign held at Dawanau Grains Market. 

Ado emphasized that using chemicals for food preservation is harmful and dangerous. He expressed concern over the rising cases of chemical use in food preservation, stating it can lead to kidney disease, hypertension, and other serious illnesses.

The Assistant Director of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) Kano, Danladi Abba, warned against this practice, specifically highlighting the use of calcium carbonate.

He pointed out that calcium carbonate is approved only for use by welders to melt iron for doors and vehicles, and its use in food preservation is extremely risky.

To combat this issue, the deputy director indicated that NAFDAC would begin monitoring welders who purchase calcium carbonate to ensure it is not being sold to fruit sellers. “Anyone caught violating this rule will face legal consequences,” he stated.

The Secretary of the Nigerian Fruits Sellers Association, Adam Muhammed, and the Chairman of the Dawanau Grains Market Association, Muttaqa Isah, advised fruit sellers to adopt hygienic preservation methods. 

“We have established a task force to monitor grain preservation during fumigation,” they noted.

Radio Nigeria reports that other relevant stakeholders, including the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and environmental health officials, also attended the awareness campaign to support the initiative.

Reporting by Khadijah Aliyu; Editing by Oluwaseyi Ajibade