Former Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo says a laboratory test found freshly squeezed orange juice consumed by his wife, Dolapo, unfit for human consumption. Osinbajo spoke on August 28 at the Open Day for Gardeners’ Seminar, titled “Leaving the earth better than we found it” in Lagos, A video of the event was later shared on Osinbajo’s YouTube channel on Wednesday and gained traction on social media on Saturday. Osinbajo said Dolapo had stopped drinking carbonated beverages and instead opted for fr
Former Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo says a laboratory test found freshly squeezed orange juice consumed by his wife, Dolapo, unfit for human consumption.
Osinbajo spoke on August 28 at the Open Day for Gardeners’ Seminar, titled “Leaving the earth better than we found it” in Lagos,
A video of the event was later shared on Osinbajo’s YouTube channel on Wednesday and gained traction on social media on Saturday.
Osinbajo said Dolapo had stopped drinking carbonated beverages and instead opted for freshly squeezed orange juice, which she considered a healthier choice.
He said his wife developed unexplained headaches after making fresh orange juice a daily habit, prompting her to investigate the possible cause.
“But after a while she started having some strange headaches drinking her fresh juice every day,” he said.
The former vice-president said his wife reviewed the food and drinks she consumed to determine what could be responsible for the headaches.
According to Osinbajo, she eventually sent a batch of the freshly squeezed orange juice to a laboratory for testing.
“The results came back. It showed that the orange juice freshly squeezed was not fit for human consumption,” he said.
Osinbajo said the incident raised concerns about the use of chemicals on fruits and vegetables and the potential health risks to consumers.
He said some farmers use dangerous pesticides, while some fruit and vegetable sellers use chemicals to ripen or preserve produce.
Osinbajo noted that calcium carbide is one of the substances used by some farmers and traders to accelerate the ripening of bananas, mangoes, pawpaw and tomatoes.
He also listed other substances, including Sniper, phosphite, DDT and brodifacoum, which he said are sometimes used in the food supply chain.
He referenced studies conducted in Ekiti, Oyo and Lagos states to illustrate the prevalence of chemical use among some fruit and vegetable sellers.
Osinbajo said a 2024 study in Ekiti found that 10 of 20 fruit sellers interviewed admitted using calcium carbide, while another study in Oyo found that 25 percent of fruit sellers surveyed admitted using the chemical.
He added that a 2023 survey of 50 fruit and vegetable retailers in Lagos found that 22 admitted using chemicals to preserve their produce.
“So, the fact that fruit looks fresh doesn’t mean that it is safe. And the fact that a drink is natural doesn’t mean that something dangerous has not been added to it along the way, especially along the journey from the farm to the table,” he said.
The former vice-president called for stronger regulation and enforcement to curb the use of harmful substances in the food supply chain.
He also urged farmers and traders to adopt safer alternatives and called for increased public awareness on food safety.
Osinbajo advised consumers to ask questions, wash produce properly and report suspicious practices to the relevant authorities.
His comments came shortly after the Africa Food Systems Forum held in Kigali, Rwanda, where stakeholders discussed ways to build healthier, more sustainable and resilient food systems across the continent.
The forum brought together policymakers, farmers, researchers, investors and development partners, to discuss ways to transform Africa’s food systems, including improving food safety, nutrition, agricultural productivity and resilience.
