How safe are our vegetables, fruits on the market?
Safety is key on the shop-list of anyone who buys food and food ingredients. Of course, no one want to eat and fall sick.
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Now when people want to be well, thus prevent lifestyle diseases/conditions like diabetes, high blood cholesterol among others; they should ideally have to worry about the safety of the foods they choose to eat. This is not the case at all.
A good number of my clients complain about the safety of the fruits and vegetables we advise them to consume. It is an undeniable fact that a diet full of fruits and vegetables has the potency needed to knock of chances of developing any of the above-mentioned lifestyle diseases.
Fruits and vegetables can even help reduce chances of developing complications from these lifestyle diseases. Even more gratifying is the fact that a healthy diet full of fruits and vegetables diminishes chances of dying from these lifestyle diseases.
So, when asked to include these powerful ingredients in their meals daily, clients ask if the ones found on the market are safe for consumption because of where they are grown. It is common to see these produce being grown beside dirty gutters and ponds.
Obviously, there is something wrong with this practice. These vegetables and fruits are mostly eaten without the need for them to be cooked. So why do you pick something from a gutter and eat. These concerns are real and true.
Something must be done about this situation. We all cannot be seeing vegetables grown in gutters for human consumption and do nothing about it. I want to appeal to the farmers who are culpable of this practice to change their ways. While we wait on them to quit the practice, let us decide not to patronize their produce.
One may ask what happens to the vegetables these producers sell at areas remote from where the farming is done. Unsuspecting consumers buy and eat them. This is just not good enough.
I believe these people can be stopped from this practice. State institutions mandated to ensure food safety can act to prevent people from growing vegetables in and around gutters that are transporting waste water.
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This brings to mind the kind of water used to irrigate these plants. I believe one of the reasons why the farmers prefer these areas is the access to the gutter water. This is also very bad and must not be allowed to continue.
I dream of a country where such farming practices will be recognized by all as punishable offences. This would discourage perpetrators from engaging in the act. It should just be seen as wrong. That way no one will go into the practice.
Even if people do it, they get reported. In the current situation, no one says anything about it. It is just not right.
We have lots of fertile land everywhere in this country. Vegetable farms should be restricted to such good and acceptable areas only. Even here good farming practices will have to be adhered to. Agric extension officers must on available to offer technical assistance to these farmers.
Issues like the use of fertilizers without proper regulation is of concern to consumers. They always ask if it was safe for them. Farmers must be held responsible of these chemicals are applied to the crops haphazardly.
If we do nothing about it, we would end up consuming the chemical laden vegetables ourselves. Our health will deteriorate. So, the earlier we speak and act, the better. These fertilizers are supposed to supplement the soil which is composed of the same chemicals. All what is left is their right use.
Organic fertilizers are the best, devoid of chemicals that can be deleterious to human health and well-being. Their use should be encouraged greatly among vegetable farmers. This should also be regulated though.
I believe once these steps are taken continuously, consumers will feel safe when eating vegetables and fruits.
Use of insecticides is also of concern to many people. They believe that the fruits and vegetables on the market are full of these chemicals. Some shy away from consuming them. Farmers must gain the confidence of these consumers by doing the right thing and making it known to everyone.
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Once these chemicals are sprayed onto the fruits and vegetables, they settle on their surface. This requires that harvesting is delayed for a few days. These rules must be applied.
You do not spray and harvest the same day or the next few days. The right thing must be done. It will be good to report those farmers doing the wrong thing once we chance upon them.
Consumers can protect themselves by leaving these produce (fruits/vegetables) in the open, say in the kitchen for a few days after buying them from the market. These chemicals can be done away with by free blowing air.
It can be harder to break them down when the produce is kept straight away in the fridge. Once they are kept for a while, you can wash them and consume or store in the fridge.
To be continued
The writer is a dietician at the Trust Hospital and author of "Eating to prevent and manage lifestyle diseases" and “Answers for your diet”. For copies call or WhatsApp 0244090262,
