Chijioke Iremeka
Health professionals have raised the alarm over the sale of rat poison and other hazardous substances alongside food items in retail environments in Nigeria, including markets.
The physicians warned that such practice poses significant health risks to consumers, especially children.
They said accidental ingestion of these toxic substances could lead to severe poisoning, requiring immediate medical attention and sometimes death, if medical attention was not given.
The physicians were reacting based on the practice of displaying rat poison and other chemicals in the same space with edibles in markets on the streets and in the supermarket.
They stressed that the proximity of such harmful items to edibles blurs the lines of safety and responsibility in food retailing.
Speaking exclusively with PUNCH Healthwise in different interviews, the medical practitioners called on the regulatory bodies in the country to ensure and enforce stricter guidelines to separate toxic products from food items, ensuring consumer awareness.
They said that public health campaigns could also play a crucial role in educating the sellers and shoppers about the dangers of these products sold in the same space as food items.
A public health physician at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi, Anambra State, Dr Okechukwu Echendu, said that maintaining a safe shopping environment was vital to healthy living.
Echendu, who urged the traders to prioritise the well-being of their customers by re-evaluating their sales practices and product placements, said that the health risks posed by these dangerous chemicals far outweigh any potential benefits from their sales.
He said, “Selling rat poison alongside edible products poses a danger to people’s safety. These two items being sold in the same environment is not good enough. Accidents might happen and these can lead to severe health consequences, including death.
“This is a dangerous practice which raises urgent concerns. Regulatory bodies must take immediate action to address this issue. Stricter guidelines should be implemented to ensure that harmful substances, such as rat poison, are sold in clearly designated areas away from food products.”
He noted that regular inspections and enforcement of compliance could significantly reduce the likelihood of such dangerous practices occurring in stores, on the streets, and in the markets.
According to him, public health campaigns should educate consumers about the risks associated with exposure to toxic substances and the importance of safe shopping environments.
“By prioritising consumer safety and implementing necessary regulations, we can safeguard public health and prevent tragic accidents resulting from the irresponsible sale of dangerous products. Regulatory bodies must act decisively to protect our communities.”
Speaking further, a consultant gynaecologist and obstetrician at the Federal Medical Centre, Epe, Lagos, Dr Cynthia Okafor, said one of the most immediate risks of such practice is accidental poisoning, particularly for children and pets, who may unknowingly ingest these toxic substances.
She noted that the ingestion of rat poison can lead to severe health complications, including internal bleeding, organ failure, and even death, saying that these tragic incidents not only affect the victims but also place a heavy emotional and financial burden on families and the healthcare system.
Okafor said, “Beyond individual cases of poisoning, the presence of rat poison in food-selling environments can erode public trust in retailers and food safety.
“Consumers may become hesitant to purchase food items in particular areas where this is practiced, fearing contamination or inadequate safety standards.
“Regulatory agencies may also impose stricter guidelines and penalties for businesses that fail to comply with safety standards.
“In all, the consequences of selling rat poison alongside food are severe, and this practice highlights the urgent need for regulatory oversight and responsible retail practices to protect public health.”
Resident Media Consultant, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, Soya Akintola, said there should be a clear separation between edible and harmful chemicals like rat poison.
He said that some of the people who do this do it out of ignorance, saying that it doesn’t make any sense for rat poison and all these harmful substances to be found in the same space with edibles in the market or anywhere.
Akintola said that this practice could lead to food poisoning.
“These are the things we are educating the masses about because all these things are done out of ignorance. It is dangerous to allow this.
“This is why we send out people on a regular basis to monitor what is happening and ensure that these harmful substances do not exist where they are not meant to. Somebody might mistakenly ingest food contaminated with it. They are not meant to be found in the same space”, he said.
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