Group cautions on use of pesticides as preservatives

By Samuel Adegoke

League Against Pesticide Consumption (LAPC), a group campaigning against the consumption of pesticides in Nigeria, has condemned the use of dichlorovinyl dimethyl phosphate, commonly known as DDVP ,and referred to as pesticides for the preservation of raw foodstuff and other edibles by traders and stockists, emphasising that the practice is harmful and injurious to the health of citizens.

The group’s statement follows the warning by the Director General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to members of the public against the use of DDVP in the preservation raw food items.

In the statement signed its spokesperson, Ms Olatunde Odebiyi, the group said: “Pesticides are chemical compounds that are used to kill pests, including insects, rodents, fungi and unwanted plants (weeds). LAPC recognises the important role of food preservation in the value chain, as the method of treating and handling to slow down spoilage and prevent food borne diseases. It recommends the use of appropriate and standard preservatives with no harmful side effects. Such will maintain the nutritional value, texture and flavour as against DDVP.”

According to the group, it has also observed the alarming frequency with which some distressed members of the public resort to the consumption of pesticides. It therefore advised that pesticides are not for ingestion by human beings, saying: “They are harmful to the body, could lead to several health problems and also death if a consumer is not given immediate medical attention.”

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LAPC buttressed its point by revealing that the global figure has it that 20 percent of global suicide is through ingestion of poisonous substances, while 78.6 percent of Nigerians who die by suicide is through the ingestion of poisonous substances such as pesticides, electrolytes (battery water) and bleach.

Odebiyi’s advised food stuff traders and stockists in Nigeria not to throw caution to the wind in the food preservation process, and urged consumers to be more observant, sensitive and health conscious in their consumption patterns and habits.