The Lagos State Government has warned residents against consuming spoilt or fungus-infested tomatoes, citing serious health risks associated with contaminated food.
The warning was issued on Sunday by the Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency (LASCOPA) in a statement shared through the state government’s official X account.
Afolabi Solebo, general manager of LASCOPA, advised consumers to avoid buying or eating tomatoes showing signs of white, green, or black fungal growth.
According to him, fungi found on rotten tomatoes can produce dangerous toxins such as aflatoxins, which may cause severe health complications, including liver damage and other related illnesses.
Emphasising the importance of food safety, Solebo said, “A healthy person is determined by what he or she consumes from time to time.”
He further explained that cooking, boiling, or frying contaminated tomatoes does not eliminate the harmful toxins, making such food unsafe for consumption.
Solebo also cautioned residents against purchasing spoilt tomatoes simply because they are cheaper, stressing that health should always take priority over cost.
He urged consumers to carefully inspect food items before purchase and avoid visibly mouldy or contaminated tomatoes and other perishables.
The LASCOPA boss also encouraged residents to properly dispose of unsafe food items and report traders involved in the sale of expired or contaminated products to relevant authorities.
According to him, consumers have both rights and responsibilities, including staying informed, challenging unfair practices, and making responsible choices that promote public health and environmental safety.
Solebo added that enforcement teams had been deployed across markets in Lagos to clamp down on traders selling unsafe food products.
The warning follows a viral video showing two women, reportedly operating a local “mama put” food business, allegedly taking maggot-infested peppers and tomatoes to a grinding mill in the Mile 12 area of Lagos for food preparation.
Authorities said one of the women had been arrested, while the other reportedly escaped.
