The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has announced its investigation into a widely circulated social media post accusing a woman of frying plantain chips using oil adulterated with polythene.
In a statement released on Saturday by NAFDAC’s Resident Media Consultant, Sayo Akintola, the agency emphasized its commitment to safeguarding public health and stated that it is adopting a science-based approach to verify the claims before taking any action.
The viral post alleged that a woman melted approximately five pieces of “olonka rubber” (polythene) into oil before grating plantains to make chips. NAFDAC acknowledged the seriousness of the allegation but pointed out that the post began circulating before the date of the alleged incident, without specifying the geographical location.
“The agency is taking a science-based approach in her response to the alleged claim and will conduct necessary laboratory investigation into the claim. In the meantime, our advice to the public who consume NAFDAC regulated food products remains the same and centres around being vigilant as consumers,” the statement added.
NAFDAC advised Nigerians to purchase regulated food products only from reputable sources, checking for NAFDAC registration numbers on product labels. The agency also cautioned against products with suspicious packaging, objectionable smell/color, or unrealistically low prices.
“We reassure the public that NAFDAC is proactive in safeguarding health. Thorough investigation of the disturbing claim will be done,” the statement concluded.
Additionally, the Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency has issued a caution to consumers of fried plantains, popularly known as “plantain chips,” urging them to be vigilant regarding any unwholesome practices in the processing of plantains for sale. This advisory aligns with the social media report claiming the witnessing of a woman melting polythene into the hot oil used for frying plantains to harden the chips.