Consumer Protection Council
The Consumer Protection Council (CPC) at the weekend advised
consumers to extensively parboil their beans already stocked before
consumption as well as to make sufficient enquiries before engaging
in new purchases.
The Council gave the advice in a statement released by its
Director General, Mr. Babatunde Irukera, on the heels of an
information that has gone viral on the reported use of sniper to
preserve beans by retailers.
The Council said in addition to the cooking method and making
enough enquiries before purchase, consumers should sufficiently
wash their food items before cooking, noting that “in any and every
case, thoroughly washing food items before consumption or
preparation for consumption is a generally accepted method of
protecting and promoting safety”.
The CPC boss, in the statement, said the government agency “has
recently confirmed by credible information that retailers, mostly
in the open market are using a pesticide, 2,2-dichlorovinyl
dimethyl phosphate (DDVP) compound, otherwise marketed and known as
“Sniper” to preserve beans, and more particularly to eliminate or
protect from weevils”.
Irukera pointed out that sniper, by its chemical composition and
nature, is potentially injurious when human beings are “unduly
exposed by inhalation, absorption, direct skin contact or
ingestion”, stressing that the “risk of injury on account of
consumption of beans exposed to, or treated with Sniper is also
existential, even though, an unintended consequence”.
While cautioning further on the dangers of using unauthorised
chemical to preserve food items, the DG said though cooking
significantly reduces risk of exposure from pesticides, “as most
are diminished under extended periods of direct heat in excess of
100 degrees, the best possible caution is to avoid subjecting food
items to pesticides not in accordance with prevailing food safety
regulations”.
Meanwhile, he said the Council was already collaborating with
other relevant regulators to address the emergent situation
