Beware Of Consumption Of ‘Ponmo’, NAFDAC Cautions Nigerians – TheNigerialawyer

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control
(NAFDAC) has warned Nigerians to be careful when buying animal
hides, popularly known as ‘ponmo.’

According to a statement issued on Friday and signed by the
Director-General of the agency, Moji Adeyeye, investigations
revealed that ”unscrupulous businessmen and traders are now
diverting animal hides meant for industrial use into the food chain
for consumption”.

Mrs Adeyeye said that investigations further revealed that some
of the companies illegally imported hides from countries such as
Lebanon and Turkey.

She said a majority of the products was smuggled into the
country through its porous borders.

The statement indicated that consumption of such animal hides
exposes one to the risk of liver, kidney and heart damage,
increased risk of Aplastic anaemia, central nervous system toxicity
and cancer.

Mrs Adeyeye urged the general public to be very vigilant and
exercise discretion when purchasing animal hides.

Statement in full
“The Management of the National Agency for Food and Drug
Administration and Control (NAFDAC) wishes to use this medium to
ALERT the general public and in particular consumers of animal
hides popularly known as PONMO in local parlance on the activities
of some unscrupulous business men and traders who are selling
industrial animal hides as food article.

“As far back as 2015, following intelligence reports, the
Agency, through Investigation and Enforcement Directorate, had been
successfully dealing with isolated cases of dangerous diversion of
animal hides meant for industrial use into the food chain for
consumption as local delicacy PONMO. This practice poses a grave
danger to public health.

“Investigations revealed that some of the companies legally
imported hides from countries such as Lebanon and Turkey, while the
majority of the product was smuggled into the country through the
porous borders.

“These imported animal hides are meant for industrial use by
leather industries for the manufacture of items such as shoes, bag,
belt etc. The hides, therefore, are pretreated with industrial
chemicals which are not of food-grade and will be toxic and
injurious to human health.

“Health hazards inherent in the consumption of such animal hides
include risk of Liver, Kidney and Heart damage, increased risk of
Aplastic anaemia, central nervous system toxicity, cancer, etc.

“Livestock farmers are also to note that industrial animal hides
can also not be used to manufacture animal feed, as the associated
chemicals will be stored in the tissues of these animals and will
eventually end up in humans when consumed with the attendant
deleterious effects listed above.”