Moi-moi, other foods cooked in nylon could cause cancer - Nigerian food safety expert warns

A dietician and food expert, John Tehinse has warned Nigerians against cooking Moi-moi and other foods in nylons as it produced dioxins, a toxic substance that causes cancer.

Tehinse gave the warning on Tuesday in Ilorin at an awareness campaign on food safety organised by the Food Safety Awareness Campaign Initiatives, funded by the European Union.

In his lecture entitled: “Food Safety Control System in Nigeria”, he said that cooking Moin-moin in nylon had become widespread while people were unaware of the dangers.

The food safety expert said nylons or cellophane bags produced dioxins when heated, adding “they are a group of chemically-related compounds that are persistent environmental pollutants (POPs)’’.

Tehinse further warned that dioxins were highly toxic and could cause reproductive and developmental problems, damage the immune system, interfere with hormones and also cause cancer.

He advised people to use the traditional leaves to cook the food.

“Food business is not only to make money but a calling to protect public health and ensure what they offer to consumers is safe,” he said.