SAN FRANCISCO, November 05, (THEWILL) – Ogun State Government has raised the alarm over the circulation of imported hides and skins, locally called kpomo, in markets across the state, warning that consumption of the products which had been treated with poisonous chemicals could be dangerous to health.
The state government said some unscrupulous businessmen were taking advantage of the gap in demand and supply of cattle hides and skin used in preparing local dishes, like the kponmo, saying such businessmen had hijacked some markets and had started selling industrial kponmo treated with the tanning chemicals to unsuspecting consumers.
The State Commissioner for Agriculture, Ronke Sokefun, while speaking on the influx of imported-killer kponmo into the state at a stakeholder’s meeting with sellers in Abeokuta, Thursday, said the imported kponmo are often brownish-black, with foul-smell, abnormally thick with layered sections and are ridiculously cheap compared with the certified kponmo.
According to Sokefun, “Tanning chemicals like biocides and fungicides are added along the processing chain to preserve the hides against protein degradation, bacteria and mould growth that would have damaged the hides and skin.
“The raw hides are later processed into the local relish called ‘kponmo’ liked by all and bought by unsuspecting members of the public for consumption.
“The government, being aware of the health implication of the consumption of this imported hides and skins, considers it important to enlighten the public on the danger inherent in the consumption and prevent further sales of the product as food of animal origin in the state.”
