Lab Test Raises Safety Concerns Over Osinbajo’s Wife’s Fresh Orange Juice

Former Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo has raised the alarm over the use of dangerous chemicals in growing, ripening and preserving farm produce, after a lab test revealed his wife Dolapo’s daily freshly-squeezed orange juice was contaminated with harmful substances.

He warned that farmers and fruit sellers routinely use calcium carbide to force fruits to ripen, and called for stronger enforcement and consumer vigilance.

When “Healthy” Became Harmful

Former Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo has raised the alarm over the use of dangerous chemicals in growing, ripening and preserving farm produce, after a lab test revealed his wife’s freshly-squeezed orange juice was “not fit for human consumption.”

Osinbajo spoke at the Open Day for Gardeners’ Seminar themed “Leaving the Earth Better Than We Found It,” held in Lagos on August 28, 2026.

A video of the event was shared on the ex-VP’s YouTube channel on Wednesday, September 2, 2026.

A Personal Experience

Osinbajo recounted how his wife, Dolapo Osinbajo, developed frequent headaches after switching from carbonated drinks to daily fresh orange juice.

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“Dolly, my dear wife, likes to have a full glass of freshly squeezed orange juice every day, a very healthy habit by the way, especially since she stopped consuming any form of carbonated drinks many years ago. And she looks at my own Coke-drinking habit with a lot of disapproval,” Osinbajo said.

“But then after a while she started having some strange headaches drinking her fresh juice every day. Then she checked everything she was eating and drinking and we were wondering what could the cause of this be? Of course it couldn’t be the ‘healthy’ orange juice.”

The Lab Results

According to Osinbajo, after nothing else showed up, Dolapo sent a batch of the juice to a lab. The results were shocking.

“The results came back. It showed the orange juice, freshly squeezed, was not fit for human consumption. This is freshly squeezed orange juice. She should have just stayed with coke, right?” he said, laughing.

The Culprit: Calcium Carbide

Osinbajo blamed the result on harmful chemicals used by farmers and fruit sellers.

“Apparently farmers use dangerous pesticides for fruits and vegetables and fruit sellers use very dangerous chemicals sometimes to ripen or preserve fruits and vegetables. Calcium carbide is used very frequently to force fruits such as bananas, mangoes, pawpaws and tomatoes to change colour and look ripe very quickly,” he said.

The law professor quoted a 2024 study in Ado-Ekiti, which found that half of 20 fruit sellers interviewed admitted using calcium carbide. Another study in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, found that 25 percent of fruit sellers admitted using the chemical.

In a 2023 survey in Lagos, 22 out of 50 fruit retailers admitted using chemicals to preserve produce.

“These were the ones who agreed they do,” Osinbajo said.

A Call to Action

Osinbajo called for stronger enforcement, public awareness, safer practices and consumer vigilance around how farm products are produced and preserved in the country.

The former Vice-President’s warning comes at a time when food safety concerns are increasingly coming to the forefront of public discourse. His personal experience has given the issue a human face, highlighting the dangers lurking in the very foods Nigerians consume daily.

A Lesson for Nigerian Youths

Osinbajo’s story is a powerful reminder that what you eat matters, and what you don’t know can hurt you.

The same vendors who sell you “fresh” fruits may be using chemicals that are slowly poisoning you.

The same farmers who grow your food may be using pesticides that are harmful to your health.

For young Nigerians, the lesson is clear: knowledge is your best protection.

Ask questions about where your food comes from. Wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly. Support organic and chemical-free farming.

And demand that your government enforce food safety laws. Your health is your wealth. Protect it.