The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control is probing a viral social media post claiming that a woman fried plantain chips using oil contaminated with polythene, according to a report by Sayo Akintola, NAFDAC’s Resident Media Consultant.
The statement issued on Saturday, January 20 explained that the agency was taking a science-based approach to confirming the claim before it would take any action. Additionally, NAFDAC had assured citizens of its commitment to protecting public health amidst the disturbing claims.
According to the viral post on X, “A woman reportedly melted about five pieces of olonka rubber (polythene) into oil before grating plantain to make chips which is a popular snack in Nigeria
The statement revealed that the attention of the Management of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control was drawn to that viral post currently on various social media platforms where an individual was reporting the purported frying of plantain chips by a local woman, saying that before she grated the plantain into the hot oil she melted about five of the white polythene, what the agency calls ‘olonka rubber’ into the hot oil.
NAFDAC had in turn, assured the public that the agency was taking a science-based approach in their response to the alleged claim and would conduct a crucial laboratory investigation into the claim.
The general public was then advised to consume only NAFDAC-regulated food products. Also, customers who purchase NAFDAC-regulated food products were asked to be vigilant and cautious.
Citizens were advised to only purchase from reputable sources, while checking for a product’s NAFDAC registration numbers. Products with questionable packaging, suspicious smell/color, or unrealistically low prices were to be reported to thrown out.
