My dear Steemian friends and fans of this page, I greet you all.
You know, I have always taken pleasure in bringing to the fore those common but publicly undermined practices that impair health in humans. In two article posts (1, 2) few days back where I warned people against consuming too much or ill-processed Garri, my friend while commenting on one of those posts argued that Nigerians have been consuming Garri from Adam's. And so perhaps my work is irrelevant.
I responded to him with some questions which he has been unable to answers up till now. Two among the questions I put to him include:
- Firstly, He should go to UN website and get me the data figure of the average life expectancy of Nigerians in the 60's and presently. Maybe we would compare and contrast!
- Secondly, he should give me a logical reason for the present day proliferation of cases of kidney, liver and heart failures; diabetes, blindness among other serious illnesses.
You see...perhaps due to high rate of poverty, in this part of the world, families hardly sponsor an autopsy on their dead. They would rather use the funds for the burial of their dead. Neither does the government has any mechanism in place for taking care of such cases. The result is that people lack etiological knowledge for certain deaths. And therefore are ignorant. Little wonder my friend raised such argument that's bereft of basic scientific logic.
Today, I will be discussing the reasons cellophane/nylon wrapped 'moi-moi' or 'pure' water poses great health risk based on expert opinions.
Health Risk Of Cellophane/Nylon-wrapped 'Moi-moi'
The origin of 'MOI-MOI can be traced to West Africa. It is a common staple food in Nigeria and very rich in proteins. It is a Nigerian steamed bean pudding that has been added adequate amount of ingredients, including onions and fresh ground peppers.
Speaking at an awareness campaign on food safety organized by the European Union funded Food Safety Awareness Campaign Initiative, a dietician, one Mr John Tehinse says..
...cooking 'moi-moi', a local delicacy of bean pudding, in nylon/cellophane has become widespread while people are unaware of the dangers...nylons and cellophane bags produce dioxins when heated. These dioxins are a group of chemically-related compounds that are persistent environmental pollutants (POPs)...dioxins are highly toxic and could cause reproductive and developmental problems, damage the immune system, interfere with hormones and also cause cancer...Source
... In The Case Of 'Pure Water'...
For those who don't know what 'pure' water as used in this context is; it is a local name for sachet water. It is common in the Western Africa and is sold at relatively low prices when compared to bottled water.
Speaking during a one-day public hearing on Food Security Bill, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh says...
...consumption of (pure) water in sachets exposed to over 28 degree Celsius is poisonous and is responsible for many cases of kidney and liver problems among Nigerians...source.
Recommendations
It is safer to use traditional leaves than either of nylon or cellophane materials to wrap moi-moi. People should desist from drinking pure water that has been exposed to over 28 degree Celsius.
CR
I strongly hope you have been enriched by this article. Do kindly UPVOTE and RESTEEM for more public awareness in this important findings.strongly hope you have been enriched by this article. Do kindly UPVOTE and RESTEEM for more public awareness in this important findings.
Your Naija Boi,