Is Our Food Really Safe?

Like many people, I was struck by what former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo said about his wife, Dolapo, and her daily fresh orange juice. This story caught my eye because it is something many can relate to. Here was a person trying to make a healthier choice. She stopped drinking fizzy drinks and switched to fresh orange juice. But then, according to the former vice president, she started to have regular headaches. Eventually, some of the juice was tested in a lab and found unfit for human consumption.

He did not explain what exactly was found in the juice, and that is important. We should not suddenly blame oranges for this issue. But the story brings up a bigger question: how safe is the food we think is healthy? We are seeing a rise in health awareness. Many of us are exercising more, reducing sugar, eating more fruits and vegetables, checking our blood pressure, and trying to eat healthier. I agree with this trend. But surely, the healthier choice should also be a safe choice.

One of my favorite fruits is the agbalumo, also known as the African star apple. I have loved it since I was a child because of its sweet-and-sour taste. However, for the last couple of seasons in Lagos, I have noticed that many of the agbalumos I bought were unusually large and very sweet. There might be a harmless reason for this, but I do not know. At the same time, I have seen some worrying videos online showing fruits being injected with sweeteners.

I cannot confirm those videos, and I do not want to use them as proof. But they left me wondering: how can I tell if someone has tampered with the food I am buying? This is not an unfounded concern. A recent international study on accidental pesticide poisoning found that Nigeria had a 69 percent rate among West African countries studied, second only to Burkina Faso. The researchers noted that the data is not complete and poisoning is often under-reported, but the findings are still alarming.

I am sure many people have had this experience: you buy ripe plantains from a street vendor only to find they are unripe when you get home. Who is to blame? It is easy to point fingers at the farmer. But the truth may be more complicated. Some farmers might be using chemicals without proper training, protective gear, or understanding of the risks involved. So, protecting consumers must also mean protecting farmers.

Then there is the issue of regulation. After Professor Osinbajo's comments, the Director-General of NAFDAC explained that fresh produce like oranges, apples, and yams do not mainly fall under NAFDAC's authority, but more with agricultural authorities. That may make sense in government circles, but the average Nigerian shopping for food does not care about who is in charge. If I see something suspicious with fruit tomorrow, who do I call? If I have to understand government structure to report something dangerous happening to my food, then we already have a problem.

During my recent travels from the UK to the United States, this reality hit home. I had grapes, fresh dates, and clementines with me, but I knew I could not bring fresh fruit into America. So, I left it behind to avoid problems with US immigration. The American rules focus on preventing pests and plant diseases, not just pesticide residues, but what stood out was how serious they are about control. They have identified risk points and set barriers.

I am not saying Nigeria should copy every rule from America or Britain. But I like the idea that prevention matters. So, where are our control points? This is where the government needs to be more practical. We need random testing of produce in major markets, and the results should be made public. If something unsafe is found, we need to trace it back through the supply chain. Farmers need better training on using chemicals, how much to apply, and how long to wait before harvesting. Pesticide sellers should be regulated more tightly, and hazardous products should be phased out if they cannot be safely used. The study on pesticide poisoning in the region suggests getting rid of highly dangerous pesticides where risks cannot be managed.

We also need a simple, well-known reporting channel for consumers, and there should be rewards for those who do the right thing and penalties for those who do not. It is the government's job to sort out which agency is in charge. It is not our job as citizens. Also, there is a moral question involved. It is unrealistic to expect a regulator or inspector to stand beside every basket of tomatoes. So if someone knowingly adds harmful substances to food to make it ripen faster or look fresher, that is not just a failure of regulation. It is a moral failure too.

That said, I do not think we should blame everything on bad character or evil intentions. Lack of exposure, training, regulatory oversight, and poor enforcement all contribute to the problem. If we want safer food, we must address the entire process. I do not think we should suddenly fear eating oranges because of the former vice president’s wife’s experience, and I certainly do not plan to stop eating agbalumo. But these experiences should lead us to ask tougher questions about how our food gets to us.

Suddenly, we have become a healthier nation with gyms popping up everywhere. People are selling supplements and healthy foods, cutting sugar, choosing fruits over fizzy drinks, and striving for better health. Surely we should be able to trust that the food we choose is not quietly becoming another health risk. If we cannot answer the simple question, “Who is keeping our food safe?”, then that is a discussion Nigeria urgently needs to have.

As we often say, “health is wealth.” It is simple to say that we need a healthy population for our country to become wealthy.