Nigeria's National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) said a market study found pesticide residues above safety limits in beans, highlighting risks for consumers and limits on its authority over raw produce.
NAFDAC disclosed the finding in an Oct. 9 statement and described the study as recent. It identified pyrethroids and dimethoate in the beans. The agency said dimethoate has no approved use for storing harvested beans. Beans treated with pyrethroids must go through a waiting period before they are eaten.
The agency said prohibited pesticides continue to appear during enforcement work. It separately raised concerns about informal supply channels. NAFDAC identified farmers, farm workers and consumers as people who can be harmed by pesticide misuse.
NAFDAC regulates pesticides and processed foods, but raw agricultural produce falls outside its direct regulatory authority. The agency said it nevertheless monitors raw produce, including products sold in markets.
In a separate food safety action, NAFDAC said in a March 12 alert that it had removed suspected counterfeit and unregistered CERELAC Mixed Fruits and Wheat cereal from a store in Lagos.
BusinessDay published the first installment of a five-part series on hazardous chemicals and counterfeit products in Nigeria's food chain on Oct. 20. The opening installment focuses on food markets.
Food prices pose a separate pressure on Nigerian households. The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) reported annual food inflation of 19.59% in September, compared with overall inflation of 14.63%. The figures were also covered in earlier EconoTimes reporting on Nigeria's inflation.
NAFDAC cited earlier pesticide restrictions and seizures among its enforcement measures. It said it would continue checking markets and work with other authorities to remove illegal products.
