Ponmo: When health risk outweighs nutrients

<p>• Using Tyres, Rubbers In Ponmo Processing Is Hazardous — Experts • Consumption Can Cause Liver, Kidney, Heart Damage, Neurological Disorders — NAFDAC • Ponmo Is Most Sought Meat Part By Majority Of My Customers — Meat Seller</p>, <p>In spite of repeated warnings by relevant agencies and health experts on the dangers of consuming Ponmo, a popular delicacy across the country, especially the South West, findings show that many Nigerians have continued to ignore the advisories.</p>, <p>Severally, the Federal Government, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), and health experts, among others, have issued stern warnings on the risk of consuming the delicacy.</p>, <p>Aside from having been proven to have no nutritive value as part of diets, Ponmo is said to constitute grave health hazards, among other risks, to its consumers due to some bad processing methods employed by butchers and other players in its trade chain, especially at abattoirs.</p>, <p>One of such processing methods involves the usage of used tyres, plastic and other substances to burn the hide, which makes it unsafe for human consumption. In addition to this, there is often the circulation of ‘toxic ponmo’ that have been pre-treated with industrial chemicals and find their way into the market.</p>, <p>Disturbingly, the majority who cannot do without the delicacy, according to medical experts, may be putting their lives on the line in the process.</p>, <p>NAFDAC Director General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, recently said investigations revealed that unscrupulous businessmen and traders were now diverting animal hides meant for industrial use into the food chain for consumption.</p>, <p>She disclosed that some of the animal hides are sometimes pre-treated with industrial chemicals, which are not of food grade and are toxic and injurious to human health.</p>, <p>She revealed that some companies legally import hides from countries such as Lebanon and Turkey, while majority of the products are smuggled into the country throu