The Nigeria Customs Service, (NCS) has warned the public against eating smuggled frozen poultry products as there are health implications.
The Ogun State Area 1 Command which gave the warning on Monday said the frozen poultry products smuggled into Nigeria were preserved with chemicals and lacked proper regulatory oversight.
The command’s Comptroller, James Ojo, in an interview in Ota disclosed that consuming this product increases the risk of harmful chemicals being used for preservation.
Ojo said:, “the World Health Organization, WHO, Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC, Food and the Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, FAO, described the consumption of smuggled frozen poultry products as having adverse effects on the health of the people.
“The frozen poultry products smuggled into Nigeria from the Republic of Benin were preserved with chemicals and often lacked proper regulatory oversight, increasing the risk of harmful chemicals being used for preservation.
“Also, they may not meet the nutritional standards required for healthy consumption and poor handling as well as preservation techniques can degrade the nutritional quality of the meat, thus leading to potential deficiencies when consumed regularly.
“The use of unknown or banned chemicals in preserving smuggled poultry can trigger allergic reactions in sensitive individuals.”
The comptroller listed some of these chemicals to include formaldehyde and other preservatives, which could cause acute and chronic health issues like poisoning, cancer and organ damages.
He admonished smugglers who were into such business to desist as the Customs would not relent in ensuring that the illegal goods banned by the Federal Government does not come into the country.
