NAFDAC warns against consuming beans sprayed with sniper, others

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has advised the public against buying and consuming beans contaminated with sniper and other agrochemicals.

The Director General, of the agency, Prof Mojisola Adeyeye, in a statement Friday, said consuming food contaminated by such agrochemicals could result in severe health conditions such as skin irritation, blindness, seizures, vomiting, diarrhoea, cancer and at high concentrations, convulsions, coma and even death.

“When you notice your grains or beans have traces of agrochemical, please do not buy or eat it. Wash your grains in several rinses of water before cooking: it is safer than just cooking without washing,” she advised.

The Director-General said the agency has noticed the dangerous practice of wrong application of agrochemicals such as Dichlorvos  also known as DDVP and others, for storage and preservation of agricultural commodities by unauthorised persons.  She said they do so through direct spraying, mixing and sprinkling.

“Dichlorvos is widely used as an insecticide to control household pests, and protecting stored product from insects, when used according to manufacturer’s specifications and is approved by NAFDAC (as SNIPER) for this purpose,” she said.

She said the agrochemicals should be properly applied with caution and good understanding, such that they do not come into direct contact with the agricultural commodity to prevent contamination of such food products, and constitute danger to public health.

“To avoid skin exposure, wear overalls made of tight fabric or polyvinyl chloride, gloves, rubber boots (some forms of rubber are attacked by dichlorvos), and a face shield or splash-proof goggles. To avoid inhalation wear a full facemask supplied-air respirator or self-contained breathing apparatus.

“Clothing that becomes contaminated with dichlorvos should be promptly removed and any contaminated skin immediately washed with soap and water. Protect from exposure persons under 18 years of age, expectant or nursing mothers, alcoholics, or those having diseases of the Central Nervous System, respiratory system, liver, kidney, or eyes,” the NAFDAC boss said.