Medical and food safety experts have raised concerns that increasing unsafe food consumption in Nigeria is contributing to rising cases of cancer, diabetes, organ failure, and other chronic illnesses. The warning follows growing reports of chemically processed foods, unhealthy dietary habits, and poor food handling practices across the country.
Nigeria has witnessed significant changes in food consumption patterns over the past decade, with increased dependence on processed foods, fast foods, artificial ripening methods, and chemically preserved products.
Health professionals have repeatedly warned that poor dietary choices and exposure to harmful food additives are increasing the burden of non-communicable diseases nationwide. Public health agencies have also intensified campaigns against the use of dangerous chemicals in food processing and preservation.
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has in recent years conducted multiple enforcement operations against unsafe food practices, particularly the use of calcium carbide for artificial fruit ripening.
Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, warned that artificial fruit ripening with calcium carbide poses severe health risks to consumers. According to her, the chemical contains dangerous impurities such as arsenic and lead, which may trigger kidney and liver failure, neurological disorders, and cancer.
She explained that fruits such as mangoes, bananas, oranges, grapes, and plantains become hazardous when ripened with calcium carbide instead of natural biological processes. According to her, the chemical releases acetylene gas that mimics ethylene but carries toxic contaminants harmful to human health.
The warning comes amid wider concerns over unsafe food consumption linked to chemically processed foods and poor nutrition habits.
Professor of Medicine and Consultant Endocrinologist at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Prof. Olufemi Fasamade, also warned that increasing dependence on fast foods, sedentary lifestyles, and chemically processed meals is contributing to obesity, infertility, and metabolic disorders among Nigerians.
Fasamade stated that misconceptions around dieting and meal skipping have worsened metabolic imbalance, stressing that early medical screening for diabetes and related conditions should begin from age 30. NAFDAC disclosed that it has expanded scientific studies and enforcement campaigns to address the growing risks associated with unsafe food consumption, while also intensifying public sensitisation programmes across communities and markets.
Health experts further warned that children and pregnant women remain particularly vulnerable to complications arising from exposure to toxic food substances, including developmental disorders, respiratory complications, and neurological damage.
Rising unsafe food consumption may increase pressure on Nigeria’s healthcare system as cases of chronic illnesses and metabolic disorders continue to grow.
The development also highlights the need for stronger food regulation, public health awareness, and improved monitoring of food processing practices across supply chains and local markets. Experts believe sustained public education and stricter enforcement against harmful food chemicals could help reduce long-term health risks and improve nutrition standards nationwide.
