Editorial: Stop killing Cameroonians with poisoned consumables.

Common among such food items are artificially ripened bananas and plantains sold in markets throughout the country, while plantain chips are hawked on major checkpoints on the highway.

Following persistent alert, the mayor of Mbankomo, near Yaounde, Pierre Junior Fouda, recently ordered an investigation that chips with artificially ripened chemicals were being sold in his municipality.  

He promised to "take all necessary measures to put an end to such practices".

The mayor of Mbankomo is not the first public authority to issue a complaint on such life-threatening malpractice. In July 2023, the Divisional Officer, DO of Dschang, in the West Region, raised concerns about the practice, highlighting consumer complaints about the use of formaldehyde on bananas, plantains and other farm produce. 

A month later, the Minister of Trade threatened sanctions against those found engaging in such criminal practices.

Scientifically, formaldehyde is a colourless, highly toxic, and flammable gas at room temperature. It is used in the production of fertiliser, paper, plywood, and some resins. It is also used as a food preservative and in household products, such as antiseptics, medicines, and cosmetics.

Scientists say to identify a bunch of plantain or banana that has been artificially ripen, all the fruits are ripe at the same time, instead of the natural process that starts from the top. 

But when the bunch has been sliced for retail or fried into ripe chips or roast plantain, it cannot be identified without going through a laboratory.

Other products known to be regularly adulterated include palm oil, to give it a bright reddish colour, and avocadoes.

Artificial sweeteners meant only for the pharmaceutical industries with strict control are also speculated to be used in bakeries and roadside cookeries under the pretext that it is sugar. 

There have been numerous cases where security operatives have uncovered backyard factories in mucky houses, producing lager and stout beer, sweet drinks and even wine, which are sold to the vulnerable public.

Taking Bamenda as a case study, police are known to have raided a factory specialised in the production of red wine, popularly known in Bamenda as 3-in-1 and sold in the local markets.

Other adulterated products uncovered during the raid included mineral water, Candy Soyabeans powder, Cliffco Yoghurt fruit drink, Bongsuiru light of carrot, Master fruit wine and Chateau Royal as well as sachet whisky.

The owner said he decided to indulge in the business to help create jobs for young Cameroonians. Eleven youth were seen working in the factory that had no registration as the time the police stormed it to arrest the owner, who is said to have been doing brisk business for years. 

Police told reporters at the scene that the products "...are toxic substances that we consume in Bamenda. They go a long way to destroy the lungs of their consumers. We have hinted the appropriate quarters and measures to curb such practices will be taken".

Such fake, imitated and adulterated toxic consumables are marketed throughout the country. Some use marketing vans, claiming they are doing promotion at enticing prices that gullible consumers cannot resist.

Apart from food items, wine and beverages being produced in unhygienic conditions and environment, there is also the phenomenon of fake drugs sold by the roadside across the country.

At The Guardian Post, we acknowledge that it is the duty of the government to protect consumers. We are aware as it concerns medication, that the national laboratory, LANACOME, as stipulated in a presidential decree creating it, has the mission "among others to control the quality of health products and medication intended for consumption, imported or manufactured locally and for export. The facility studies and analyses trials with a view to scrutinise products for therapeutic and cosmetic use, and any other assimilated product in human and veterinary medicine".

As for the rest of the industry, it is the Standards and Quality Agency, known by its French acronym, ANOR, which responsibility is to control quality on the country’s markets not only stands as a strategic partner in protecting consumers’ health and wellbeing, but also the security of Cameroon’s economic space. 

During unannounced trips to markets, agents of the Standards and Quality Agency have been able to detect products of doubtful quality. This has often led to seizure and destruction for some and the non-issuance of conformity certificates for others.

Both organs are, however, limited in personnel and operational scope. Often it is the Ministry of Trade, which has regional delegations, that sporadically collaborates with the security forces to curb a flourishing industry in which the shylock operators make windfall profits at the expense of the health of compatriots.

There is also no specific regulation to deter those who artificially ripen fruits like banana, plantains and avocado, unlike in other countries like neighbouring Nigeria or India, to name just two cases.

In as much as the cost of living is tormenting all Cameroonians, especially those Frantz Fanon calls the "wretched of the earth", businesspeople should not continue to exacerbate their already perilous economic situation with poisoned consumables.