Beware of dangerous ‘Ponmo’ in town, says NAFDAC

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, on Sunday, warned against retailing and consumption of dangerous imported cow hides, popularly known as ‘ponmo’.

Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, NAFDAC’s director-general, said the agency intercepted 120 tons of dangerous consumable imported by “unscrupulous businessmen”.

NAFDAC said the seized consumable is “chemical-laden”.

“The street value of the product currently intercepted is estimated to be around N25.330m”, she said.

“NAFDAC wishes to advise consumers and retailers of Ponmo not to patronise importers of hides and skins for consumable animal skins.

“The general public is hereby encouraged to be very vigilant and exercise discretion when purchasing animal hides, ponmo, and indeed other food items.

“NAFDAC is fully alive to her responsibilities of assuring the safety, wholesomeness, and quality of processed foods offered for sale to the public.”

“Monitoring was also extended to some buyers who patronise the sellers and custodians of the warehouse.

“Preliminary investigation revealed that some of the hides and skin were imported illegally and sometimes diverted to some merchants of death who re-process them and further sell them as consumable ponmo to the public.”