As part of intensified efforts to safeguard public health, the Oyo State Government has intercepted and confiscated chemically ripened fruits during a food safety enforcement operation in a market in Oyo town.
The exercise was carried out by officials of the Department of Food, Water and Laboratory Services under the State Ministry of Health, following an anonymous tip-off.
According to a statement issued by the State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Dotun Oyelade, about twelve baskets of mangoes artificially ripened with hazardous chemicals were seized during the operation.
The statement noted that the fruits were already prepared for sale to unsuspecting members of the public, posing serious health risks.
Speaking on the development, the State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Oluwaserimi Ajetunmobi, cautioned residents to be vigilant and ensure that food items they consume are sourced from safe and trusted vendors, warning that chemically induced ripening could have harmful effects on human health.
Written by Charity Mbata