NAFDAC probes contaminated fried plantain chips

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) is currently looking into a widely circulated social media post that alleges a woman used oil adulterated with polythene to fry plantain chips, according to a statement by Sayo Akintola, NAFDAC’s Resident Media Consultant.

Issued on Saturday, the statement clarified that the agency is adopting a science-based approach to verify the claim before taking any corrective measures. NAFDAC assured the public of its unwavering commitment to protecting public health in light of the concerning accusation.

The viral post in question suggested that a woman melted approximately five pieces of olonka rubber (polythene) into oil before grating plantains to make chips.

NAFDAC’s statement highlighted that the agency’s attention was drawn to the viral posts circulating on social media, reporting the alleged frying of plantain chips by a woman. The individual claimed that before grating the plantains into the hot oil, the woman melted about five pieces of white polythene, referred to as ‘olonka rubber,’ into the oil.

According to NAFDAC, the post started circulating before the supposed date of the observed practice, and the location was not specified. The agency emphasized that it would conduct a thorough laboratory investigation into the alleged claim, taking a science-based approach in its response.

NAFDAC advised the public to remain vigilant when consuming NAFDAC-regulated food products and cautioned against purchasing items with suspicious packaging, objectionable smell/color, or unrealistically low prices. Additionally, consumers were encouraged to buy from reputable sources and check for NAFDAC registration numbers on product labels.