Vanguard News reports that fruit vendors in several major open‑air markets across Nigeria have begun washing produce with household laundry detergents and liquid soaps, a practice that gives the fruit an unnaturally glossy appearance and has sparked urgent public‑health warnings.
The “detergent wash” is intended to strip away mud, pesticide residues and blemishes, leaving watermelons, bananas, apples, mangoes and other fruits with a bright, polished sheen that attracts buyers and reduces spoilage losses. Vendors say the method works faster than rinsing with clean water alone, producing a “beautiful, shiny coat” that makes the fruit look “fresh from the farm.”
“Customers buy with their eyes first. If a watermelon looks dusty or faded, they will walk right past your stall,” said an anonymous vendor. “When we use a little detergent or liquid soap in the washing water, it cuts through the dirt instantly and helps us sell faster.”
Not all traders endorse the technique. Audu Musa, a fruit seller, explained, “The use of laundry detergent to wash fruit is to remove the dirt of mud from them and make them attractive to consumers. But I don’t use detergents. I take my fruits to the market and shade them the way they were brought from the farm. My customers prefer them that way.”
Dr. Amara Nwosu, a gastroenterologist at a public teaching hospital, warned that ingesting even trace amounts of laundry detergent can cause “acute gastrointestinal distress, including severe abdominal cramps, vomiting and chronic diarrhea.” She added that “consistent exposure to these industrial surfactants can erode the mucosal lining of the gut, disrupt the gut microbiome and potentially lead to chronic kidney damage or liver toxicity.”
Consumers are reacting with alarm. Halima Yunusa, a regular market shopper, said, “It is completely heartbreaking to realize that the things we buy to keep our children healthy could actually make them sick. I am terrified to buy anything that looks too shiny.” Food‑safety advocates are urging shoppers to avoid fruit that appears excessively glossy, artificially bright or carries an unnatural floral scent, and to rinse or peel produce thoroughly before eating.
Local authorities have been called upon to investigate the practice and enforce food‑safety regulations in the markets. While no specific enforcement actions have been announced, officials acknowledge the need for rapid response to protect public health in Nigeria’s bustling open‑air food markets.
<small>Source: Vanguard News — read the original story there.</small>
