Concerned about the health of Nigerians, the federal government has warned Nigerians to desist from patronising private and unregistered abattoir and meat shops. The warning came from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (FMAFS) on Thursday. The action followed the outcome of an investigation into the incident of food poisoning at the Mandate Cattle Market in Kwara State on Saturday, April 20.
The herders were said to have slaughtered seven affected animals for public consumption.
The authorities have , therefore, asked the people to avoid private abattoirs, slaughter slabs and meat shops.
The warning was issued by the Permanent Secretary FMAFS, Peter Farashedemi followed a mortality herd incident at Mandate Cattle Market in Kwara State.
According to Farashedemi, the ministry upon investigation received a report from the Kwara State Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.
Apparently, the animals had grazed on the forage that was fumigated with organophosphate chemical before the incident. However, instead of alerting the authorities, the herders decided to slaughter seven of the cows that had become affected for sale to the public.
Farashedemi, who made the revelation in a statement, said the herders were aware of the symptoms that showed in the animals like hypersalivation, weakness, and recumbency, they allowed it to be sold to people. Farashedemi said, “This has public health risks, and the consequences may be very severe in the food chain.
“In this particular instance, the Rapid Response Team (RRT) in Kwara State in collaboration with the State Government’s task force, swiftly swung into action to trace and confiscate the meat from the slaughtered animal; these were subsequently disposed of in an environmentally friendly manner.
“Also 40 suspected poisoned animals were treated with organophosphate antidotes, and they responded with marked improvement in their health, leading to recovery.”
So, in order to guide against future occurrence the authorities have announced some signs people have to watch out for before consuming or exposing anyone to such a dangerrous meat. There are also precautions that have to be taken.
He said, “Meat for human consumption should be purchased at registered, government/private approved spots such as abattoirs, slaughter slabs, meat shops, etc. Such products must have been certified wholesome, and fit for consumption by a registered veterinarian.”
Now, where people cannot confirm the veracity of the source or the certification of the meat, it said that they should watch out for certain features. He said, “Meat from dead animals is unwholesome and should not be consumed, there is danger in consuming unwholesome meat and other food of animal origin, especially contaminated with organophosphate.
“With a withdrawal period of 14 -21 days after injection, ingestion or application of drugs or chemicals preparation on animals should be strictly observed before products from such animals are certified for consumption.
“Dead animals should be properly disposed of with the aid of veterinarians and environmental health officers.”
The official also implored Nigerians about the need to take action in the event that they suspect that animals that had not been certified safe for consumption were being prepared for public consumption by alerting the authorities. He said, “Report diseased or suspected diseased animals to the nearest veterinary clinic or animal health services providers.”
Beyond that, because the suspicion is that the Mandate Cattle Market incident was traced to some chemicals consumed by the affected cows in the farms, Mr. Farashedemi advised farmers on what to do should they want to apply chemicals on their farms, “People who may have a genuine reason to apply chemicals on open farmlands or fields should please notify their host communities to avoid grazing animals on such fields for at least one week.”