By Awyetu Asabe Hope
The Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency has warned residents against consuming spoiled or fungus-infested tomatoes, popularly known as “Ata Esha, citing serious health risks linked to toxic fungal contamination.
General Manager of the agency, Afolabi Solebo, said on Sunday that residents should avoid tomatoes showing signs of white, green, or black fungal growth.
According to him, fungi found on spoiled tomatoes may produce harmful toxins, including aflatoxins, which can cause severe health complications such as liver damage.
Solebo warned consumers against buying spoiled produce because it is cheaper, stressing that food safety should take priority over cost.
“Cooking, boiling or frying contaminated tomatoes may not eliminate the harmful toxins, thereby making such food unsafe for human consumption,” he said.
He urged residents to inspect food items carefully before purchase and avoid visibly mouldy or decayed perishables.
Solebo also advised consumers to properly dispose of contaminated food and report the sale of unsafe or expired products to relevant authorities.
The agency said enforcement teams had been deployed across markets in Lagos to identify and apprehend traders selling unsafe food products.
LASCOPA reiterated the state government’s commitment to protecting public health and ensuring only safe food items are sold in markets.
