The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has organised a sensitisation campaign in Kano to raise awareness about the dangers of consuming chemically ripened fruits, adulterated meat, and contaminated grains.
The workshop, held at Gidauniya Hall of the Kano Foundation, focused on promoting food quality standards, safety regulations, and fair business practices in the food sector.
FCCPC Executive Vice Chairman, Olatunji Bello, described access to safe, nutritious, and unadulterated food as a vital pillar of public health, economic growth, and national security
Bello, represented by the Director of Quality Assurance and Development, Dr. Nkechi Mba, noted that ensuring food safety is a shared responsibility involving regulators, manufacturers, and consumers alike.
He expressed concern over the growing trend of harmful food practices, particularly the forceful ripening of fruits with dangerous chemicals such as calcium carbide, which contains toxic traces of arsenic and phosphorus.
The campaign forms part of the commission’s ongoing efforts to safeguard consumer health and ensure compliance with food safety standards across the country.
The Director, Consumer and Business Education, Yahaya Garba Kudan, said the food industry-forced ripening of fruits, adulterated palm oil, contaminated meat, and grains were issues that affect, not only people’s health and well-being but also the integrity of the nation’s food supply chain.
He noted that FCCPC was committed to protecting consumers and ensuring that they have access to safe and high-quality food, and the programme was a testament to the commission’s dedication to educating and empowering consumers, farmers, vendors, and all stakeholders involved in the food supply chain.
The programme featured experts who shared insights on how to identify and prevent the harmful practices.
The commission said it was collaborating with relevant agencies, such as National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (FMOSW), Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (FMAFS) and State and Local Government Health and Agriculture authorities to improve compliance with food safety laws and consumer rights.
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