Former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has raised concerns over the possible health risks associated with the use of chemicals in the cultivation, ripening and preservation of fruits and fresh vegetables.
Osinbajo voiced the concerns while recounting an experience involving his wife Dolapo, who he said developed frequent headaches months after switching from carbonated drinks to fresh orange juice.
According to the former vice-president, his wife had stopped drinking Coca-Cola and opted for freshly prepared orange juice, which they considered a healthier alternative.
He said concerns arose after she began experiencing recurring headaches months later.
Osinbajo said the orange juice was subsequently taken for laboratory analysis to determine whether there was anything unusual about the fruit.
He said the test results reportedly showed that the oranges were not fit for human consumption because of chemicals allegedly used by farmers during production, ripening and preservation.
He listed some of the harmful chemicals to include calcium carbide, sniper, gamalin 20, etc.
“My wife started having frequent headaches a few months after she quit Coca-Cola for fresh orange juice. She sent a fresh batch of the orange juice to the lab for testing and the results revealed that the oranges were not fit for human consumption because of the dangerous chemicals the farmers had used to ripen and preserve them,” Osinbajo said.
His account has drawn attention to concerns surrounding agricultural chemical use and the need for proper monitoring of food products from farms to consumers.
Not only did he stress the importance of ensuring that food marketed for human consumption meets safety standards and does not expose consumers to harmful substances, he also advocated stricter enforcement of safety regulations.