• Consumption Can Cause Liver, Kidney, Heart Damage, Neurological Disorders — NAFDACSeverally, the Federal Government, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control , and health experts, among others, have issued stern warnings on the risk of consuming the delicacy.
NAFDAC Director General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, recently said investigations revealed that unscrupulous businessmen and traders were now diverting animal hides meant for industrial use into the food chain for consumption. “Livestock farmers are advised to note that industrial animal hides could not be used in the manufacture of animal feed. Associated chemicals are generally stored in the tissues of animals that are fed with feed made with industrial animal hides and will eventually end up in humans when consumed, with the attendant effects,” she added.
“When tyres are used as fuel for roasting, they produce hazardous fumes, carbon monoxide, and oxides of sulphur and nitrogen, bad compounds like polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons , volatile organic compounds , and heavy metals like zinc, arsenic, and mercury. These substances can contaminate the cow skin, making it unsafe for consumption,” he said.
To ensure the safety of ponmo as food, Ebirim said it is essential to use proper cooking methods. “The best ways to prepare it for consumption include boiling cow skins in water. It is an effective method of eliminating harmful substances and softening the skin. Boiling also helps to remove excess fat and impurities, making the ponmo healthier for consumption.”
THE warnings against ponmoconsumption came to the fore in the last few weeks basically due to the outbreak of Anthrax diseases, a zoonotic disease that can be transmitted from animals to humans. THOUGH experts say Ponmo has little dietary benefit when consumed, The Guardian survey in markets and food joints in Lagos, showed that the ponmo-market is the most sought ‘protein’ currently, hence the boom in sales, with the traders making brisk business.
It was learnt that the ‘new found love’ for Ponmo is not unconnected with the current food inflation across the country, worsened by the fuel price hike that has caused untold hardship for Nigerians. At the popular Oko-Oba Abattoir and Lairage Complex, Oko-Oba, Agege, the practice seems to have stopped. During the visit, a section outside the abattoir facility, near Agric road where the cowhides and horns are burnt was deserted, but for some scavengers seen around the flank.