Lagos Warns Against Poisonous ‘Ata Esha’ Tomatoes Over Cancer Risk

LAGOS — The Lagos State Government has issued an urgent public health advisory to residents, warning against the procurement and consumption of cheap, visibly decayed, or fungus-infested tomatoes, colloquially known in local markets as “Ata Esha.”

​The state government warned that consuming these compromised agricultural products poses severe, life-threatening health risks, including permanent liver damage and lethal toxic poisoning.

​The warning was officially handed down on Sunday by the Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency (LASCOPA) via an institutional brief issued by its General Manager, Afolabi Solebo.

​Solebo strongly urged consumers and food vendors across the metropolitan state to completely boycott tomatoes exhibiting white, green, or black fungal growths, as well as those with compromised, mushy textures.

​The Aflatoxin Danger

​According to medical experts and data referenced by the regulatory agency, the specific fungi that thrive on decaying tomatoes generate hazardous secondary metabolites known as mycotoxins, most notably aflatoxins. Aflatoxins are scientifically proven, potent carcinogens directly linked to acute hepatic necrosis, liver cirrhosis, and long-term liver cancer.

​Crucially, the agency dispelled a common household myth among Nigerians that intensive heat can purify bad produce. Solebo revealed that standard culinary practices offer absolutely no protection against these chemical hazards.

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​“Cooking, boiling, or frying contaminated tomatoes may not eliminate the harmful toxins, thereby making such food completely unsafe for human consumption,” Solebo cautioned. “A healthy person is ultimately determined by what he or she consumes from time to time.”

​Enforcement Teams Deployed

​Acknowledging the current economic pressures forcing citizens toward cheaper food alternatives, the LASCOPA boss admonished residents never to sacrifice health and personal safety on the altar of cost considerations. He reiterated that purchasing “Ata Esha” because it is heavily discounted is a dangerous financial trade-off that often leads to exorbitant, tragic medical emergencies.

​To safeguard the public, the state government has transitioned from public enlightenment to aggressive enforcement. Monitoring and enforcement units have already been deployed to major open markets, food hubs, and distribution points across Lagos State with strict mandates to confiscate unwholesome produce and apprehend traders intentionally retailing hazardous food items to unsuspecting buyers.

​Residents were encouraged to rigorously inspect all perishable items before exchanging money, properly dispose of contaminated food stores at home, and promptly report recalcitrant market vendors to the state’s public health and consumer protection agencies.