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Published by ABT NEWS Health | www.abtnews.net
In a shocking development that poses a severe threat to public health, a new wave of toxic animal hides has infiltrating markets in Africa. What some unscrupulous sellers are passing off as exotic delicacies is, in reality, industrial-grade leather meant for the manufacturing sector.
The “Imported Dry Fish” Deception
The alarm was recently raised when a concerned citizen was aggressively approached by a vendor selling what was described as “dry fish imported from Thailand.” The vendor marketed the product as being of exceptional quality. However, careful investigations into these strange, tough “imported” meats actually revealed a much more sinister truth: these are not exotic fish, but chemically treated animal hides.
Industrial Chemicals on Your Plate
The core of this public health crisis lies in the fact that these imported cow hides (popularly known as ponmo) are strictly industrial-grade products. They have already been treated with highly toxic industrial chemicals—including sodium sulfide, chromium sulfate, formic acid, and fatliquors—which are specifically meant for tanning leather in the shoe and bag industry.
Instead of being used for footwear, a cartel of fraudulent distributors reprocesses these toxic hides slightly and distributes them to local market outlets. From there, unsuspecting vendors, especially market women, soak the chemical-laced leather in water to soften it before selling it to the general public as edible ponmo.
NAFDAC’s Crackdown: 120 Tons Impounded
Confirming the absolute severity of this crisis, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has officially intervened. According to a recent operation, NAFDAC intercepted a staggering 120 tons of these dangerous imported animal hides across six different locations in Lagos, Nigeria. During the raids, the agency nabbed seven merchants involved in distributing this deadly product.
The Director General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, consequently issued a stark warning to the general public, especially consumers of ponmo, against the activities of these unscrupulous businessmen selling industrial animal hides as consumables and food articles. Intelligence gathering revealed to ABT NEWS reporters that market men and women were frequently clustering at specific warehouses to purchase leftovers of these chemically processed skins. The street value of the intercepted toxic hides is estimated at roughly N25.33 million.
Severe Health Risks
Prof. Adeyeye emphasized that these hides are pre-treated with non-food-grade industrial chemicals, making them highly toxic and injurious to human health. The health hazards associated with consuming this chemical-laden ponmo include:
- A high risk of severe liver, kidney, and heart damage.
- An increased risk of developing aplastic anemia.
Public Advisory
ABT NEWS strongly urges all citizens to exercise extreme vigilance and discretion when purchasing animal hides or unrecognized “imported dry fish”. NAFDAC explicitly advises consumers and retailers not to patronize importers who sell hides and skins intended for the leather industry as consumable food.
Please share this critical awareness breaking news with your family and friends to keep them safe from these “merchants of death”
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