Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency has issued a public warning against buying or eating tomatoes that show any signs of mould. The agency’s general manager, Afolabi Solebo, said that tomatoes with visible white, green or black fungal growth – commonly referred to locally as “Ata Esha” – can harbour toxins such as aflatoxins, which are linked to liver damage and other serious illnesses.
In a statement posted on the state government’s X account on Sunday, Solebo stressed that cooking, boiling or frying mould‑affected tomatoes does not neutralise the toxins. “A healthy person is determined by what he or she consumes from time to time,” he warned, adding that the lower price of spoiled produce should never outweigh health considerations.
Consumers are urged to inspect fruit and vegetable purchases carefully, discard any items that appear mouldy, and report sellers who continue to market unsafe or expired food. The agency also reminded the public that consumer rights include the right to accurate information about products and the responsibility to make environmentally conscious choices.
To enforce the warning, Lagos authorities have deployed monitoring teams to markets across the state. Traders found selling mould‑contaminated tomatoes may face penalties under existing food‑safety regulations.
The advisory comes amid heightened scrutiny of food‑safety standards in Nigeria, where aflatoxin contamination remains a public‑health challenge. By targeting a common staple such as tomatoes, officials aim to curb exposure to harmful toxins and reinforce the importance of food quality in everyday consumption.
The agency will continue its market inspections and encourages residents to stay vigilant, report violations and prioritize safe, uncontaminated produce in their diets.
