Toxic imported "Ponmo" causes alarms in Ogun state govt
Ogun govt raises alarm over toxic imported ‘Ponmo’
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| Ponmo |
ABEOKUTA—Ogun State government has
raised an alarm over the discovery of poisonous cattle hide and skin
otherwise known as ‘Ponmo’ in some markets in the state, warning the
people against its consumption.
The government said some unscrupulous businessmen were taking
advantage of the gap in demand and supply of the soup ingredient
popularly called ‘Ponmo’ to sell industrial ‘Ponmo’ laden with tanning
chemicals to the unsuspecting public.
The state commissioner for Agriculture, Ronke Sokefun raised the
alarm, yesterday, while addressing stakeholders and ‘Ponmo’ sellers in
her office, in Abeokuta.
Sokefun explained that the toxic ‘Ponmo’ otherwise known as ‘imported
ponmo’ is often brownish black, foul smelling, abnormally thick with
layers and ridiculously cheap compared to the certified ponmo.
According to her, what is being sold is raw hide meant for leather
production from African and European countries like Sudan, Italy and
Japan.
“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,”
she said.
