Ondo govt warns buyers against food preserved with mortuary formalin

By Boye Oyeyemi

The Ondo State Government has warned residents against buying food items suspected to have been preserved with formalin, following concerns that some traders are using chemicals associated with mortuaries to keep their products looking fresh.

The Commissioner for Environment, Dr. Tob Loko, raised the alarm while speaking on environmental and public health issues in the state, alleging that some traders had resorted to using formalin as a cheap method of prolonging the shelf life of food.

Loko said the substance was reportedly obtained through different channels, including factories and mortuaries, before being applied to vegetables and other food items to maintain their fresh appearance beyond their normal lifespan.

He urged consumers to be suspicious of food products that remain unusually fresh for an extended period, stressing that an attractive appearance does not necessarily indicate that such items are safe for consumption.

According to the commissioner, eating food contaminated with formalin could expose consumers to serious health complications, particularly affecting vital organs such as the liver and kidneys.

Loko said the state government had intensified surveillance and public awareness campaigns to identify environmental and health hazards, while urging residents to exercise greater caution when purchasing food.

The commissioner also cautioned residents against leaving sachet water under direct sunlight for prolonged periods, saying chemicals from plastic packaging could migrate into the water when exposed to intense heat.

He stressed that safeguarding public health required collective responsibility, urging residents to avoid practices capable of exposing them to preventable health risks as the government continued its monitoring and investigation of environmental hazards across the state.