FCCPC sensitizes Kano residents on food safety, fair business practices

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has warned that harmful practices in food production, including forced fruit ripening, adulterated palm oil, and contaminated meat and grains, pose serious threats to public health and consumer safety.

The warning came during a one-day sensitisation program organized by the FCCPC on Tuesday in Kano, aimed at educating stakeholders on safe food handling, proper labelling, regulatory compliance, and ethical business practices.

Speaking at the event, the Executive Vice Chairman of FCCPC, Mr Olatunji Bello, represented by the Director of Quality Assurance and Development, Dr. Nkechi Mba, highlighted the Commission’s mandate to protect consumers, promote fair competition, and prevent exploitative conduct, particularly in the food and agriculture sectors.

Dr Mba cautioned against chemical ripening of fruits with calcium carbide, food adulteration with toxic additives, and poor handling that exposes food to contamination.

She said, “Unsafe food not only endangers lives but undermines trust in markets, disrupts trade, and damages the reputation of businesses, both large and small.”

She urged stakeholders to uphold hygiene standards, properly label and package products, and respect consumer rights.

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Also speaking, the Director of Consumer and Business Education at FCCPC, Mr Yahaya Garba Kudan, emphasized that food safety is a fundamental consumer right.

He noted that unsafe practices not only endanger lives but also erode consumer confidence in the food industry.

“It is our responsibility to ensure that consumers have access to safe, high-quality food,” he said, adding that the programme allows participants to learn how to identify and prevent unsafe practices, lodge complaints, and seek redress.

Kudan highlighted that the FCCPC works closely with agencies such as NAFDAC, SON, and the Federal Ministries of Health and Agriculture to ensure compliance with food safety laws.

He noted that through market surveillance, enforcement actions, and public education, the Commission has intervened in numerous cases of hazardous food practices.

The sensitisation program brought together consumers, businesspeople, food vendors, regulatory officials, and civil society organizations, providing a platform to discuss the dangers of chemically ripened fruits and adulterated foods.

Dr. Mba concluded, “A nation that poisons its people cannot prosper. We are all consumers, and an injury to one is an injury to all. Together, we must eradicate harmful food practices and foster a culture of accountability and respect for human life.”