Former Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo says a laboratory test found freshly squeezed orange juice consumed by his wife, Dolapo, unfit for human consumption.
Osinbajo spoke on August 28 at the Open Day for Gardeners’
Seminar, titled “Leaving the earth better than we found it” in Lagos,
A video of the event was later shared on Osinbajo’s YouTube
channel on Wednesday and gained traction on social media on Saturday.
Osinbajo said Dolapo had stopped drinking carbonated
beverages and instead opted for freshly squeezed orange juice, which she
considered a healthier choice.
He said his wife developed unexplained headaches after
making fresh orange juice a daily habit, prompting her to investigate the
possible cause.
“But after a while she started having some strange headaches
drinking her fresh juice every day,” he said.
The former vice-president said his wife reviewed the food
and drinks she consumed to determine what could be responsible for the
headaches.
According to Osinbajo, she eventually sent a batch of the
freshly squeezed orange juice to a laboratory for testing.
“The results came back. It showed that the orange juice
freshly squeezed was not fit for human consumption,” he said.
Osinbajo said the incident raised concerns about the use of
chemicals on fruits and vegetables and the potential health risks to consumers.
He said some farmers use dangerous pesticides, while some
fruit and vegetable sellers use chemicals to ripen or preserve produce.
Osinbajo noted that calcium carbide is one of the substances
used by some farmers and traders to accelerate the ripening of bananas,
mangoes, pawpaw and tomatoes.
He also listed other substances, including Sniper,
phosphite, DDT and brodifacoum, which he said are sometimes used in the food
supply chain.
He referenced studies conducted in Ekiti, Oyo and Lagos
states to illustrate the prevalence of chemical use among some fruit and
vegetable sellers.
Osinbajo said a 2024 study in Ekiti found that 10 of 20
fruit sellers interviewed admitted using calcium carbide, while another study
in Oyo found that 25 percent of fruit sellers surveyed admitted using the
chemical.
He added that a 2023 survey of 50 fruit and vegetable
retailers in Lagos found that 22 admitted using chemicals to preserve their
produce.
“So, the fact that fruit looks fresh doesn’t mean that it is
safe. And the fact that a drink is natural doesn’t mean that something
dangerous has not been added to it along the way, especially along the journey
from the farm to the table,” he said.
The former vice-president called for stronger regulation and
enforcement to curb the use of harmful substances in the food supply chain.
He also urged farmers and traders to adopt safer
alternatives and called for increased public awareness on food safety.
Osinbajo advised consumers to ask questions, wash produce
properly and report suspicious practices to the relevant authorities.
His comments came shortly after the Africa Food Systems
Forum held in Kigali, Rwanda, where stakeholders discussed ways to build
healthier, more sustainable and resilient food systems across the continent.
The forum brought together policymakers, farmers,
researchers, investors and development partners, to discuss ways to transform
Africa’s food systems, including improving food safety, nutrition, agricultural
productivity and resilience.
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