Jigawa warns against using pesticides for fish preservation

The Jigawa State Consumer Protection Agency on Wednesday cautioned fish sellers against the use of Gamalin 20, a pesticide, for fish preservation.

Muazu Mohammad, the Zonal Officer of the agency, gave the warning in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Hadejia.

Muhammad said that using such toxic chemical in processing food was partly responsible for some cases of kidney and liver diseases.

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“From 2019 to date, five fish sellers at Hadejia market have been arrested and handed over to the police for using Gamalin 20 to preserve fish.

“Instead of smoking the fish, as usual, the desperate traders spray the fish with a mixture of cooking oil and Gamalin 20 to prevent it from becoming rotten,” Mohammad said.

He also warned bakeries in the area against using potassium bromate to strengthen the dough and enhance its elasticity.

“Using bromate among bakeries is also harmful. Therefore, any bakery found using it will be shut and the owner prosecuted.

“Recently, we shut three bakeries in Hadejia, but later re-opened them after the owners complied with the guidelines.

“Our investigation has revealed that normal bread should expire within one week; that is the standard globally.

“If the quality of bread lasts longer than one week, then something is wrong,” he said.

The zonal officer said that the agency would continue to educate the public on the danger of using toxic substances for food preservation and processing.

NAN