By Eyituoremi Nwachukwu
The Federal Government through National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control NAFDAC is saddled with the responsibility of ensuring that food products that are substandard or harmful to the wellbeing of its citizens are not circulated within the country.
However, as a result of the nefarious activities of some unscrupulous businessmen and despite the Ban placed on Imported Tomato Pastes over three years ago, there has been unabated flooding of the Nigerian market with imported and unregistered tomato paste to the detriment of local manufacturers, the economy and above all the health of consumers.
Extensive surveillance shows that some stores, open markets, supermarkets, and community provision shops, across Lagos stock, display for sale and indeed sell banned, imported, and unregistered Canned tomato pastes.
Recall that in 2019, the importation of canned/tinned tomato paste, powder, or concentrate was banned and increased tariffs on imports of tomato concentrate were from 5% to 50% in a bid to ensure that they are properly certified by NAFDAC to ensure their wholesomeness.
Prior to the ban, NAFDAC reportedly carried out a study and laboratory analysis of the tomato content of sample brands of tomato paste taken from the major markets in Lagos state. The study revealed that 91.1% of the imported tomato paste was “unsatisfactory”.
In June 2019, the Ministry of Finance issued a circular, adding “Tomatoes, whole or in pieces H.S Code 2002.10.10.00 and Tomato Concentrate, put up for retail sale, H.S, Code 2002.90.20.00 and 2002.90.90.00.” to the revised Import Prohibition List.
The Ban placed on imported and unregistered canned tomato pastes should in no small measure curb a lot of health challenges. There are reports of tinned tomato pastes with a lot more sugar content than the recommended body intake; nearly 8g per can which is almost a third of what an average adult person needs. Also of great concern is the high acidic nature in some of these food particles that may cause BPA to leach out over time, this is especially true if the can is scratched, dented, or damaged in any way and may result in an increased risk of cancer for regular consumers of the canned products.
Speaking with NAFDAC’s Director of Investigation and Enforcement Directorate and Chairman of Federal Task Force, he said that the Agency recently carried out a general mop-up on the sale and/or display for sale of imported and unregistered tomato paste in Supermarkets and major markets in Lagos and its environs and will continue to do so as part of its mandate to ensure the safety of consumers. He further stated that NAFDAC is not relenting in her fight
against unscrupulous individuals as further investigation will be carried out and offenders who undertake these illicit acts while making profits to the detriment of human health will be dealt with to the full extent of the law.
The Director passionately appealed to members of the public to remain vigilant, desist from purchasing fake, unwholesome, counterfeit, unregistered products, and help the Agency to Safeguard public health and ultimately eradicate such products from society by reporting any suspicious activity to the nearest NAFDAC office.
