A prominent Nigerian health influencer and medical doctor has issued an urgent public warning about a food safety risk hiding in plain sight in kitchens across the country, the routine consumption of spoiled tomatoes.
Dr. Chinonso Egemba, widely known as Aproko Doctor, warned Nigerians against consuming spoiled tomatoes and other fungus-infested food items popularly referred to as “Ata Esha” or “Awarawa,” saying they may pose serious health risks if consumed regularly.
In a post shared via X on Monday, Egemba cautioned that some of the visibly rotten tomatoes in circulation contain harmful fungal growths that could produce toxins dangerous to human health. “These tomatoes commonly called spoiled tomatoes (Ata Esha) or awarawa… there’s a poison inside this tomato that a lot of you don’t know about, but you’re eating it every day,” he says
What Are Aflatoxins?
Egemba explained that the white substances often seen inside such tomatoes are caused by fungi that can produce aflatoxins, which he described as hazardous when consumed over time.
According to him, the white patches seen inside such tomatoes are caused by fungi that generate aflatoxins, which are linked to liver cancer in adults and stunted growth in children.
According to the National Cancer Institute, aflatoxins are toxins produced by certain fungi commonly found on agricultural crops such as maize, peanuts, cottonseed, and tree nuts. The fungi, mainly Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus, thrive in warm and humid conditions and can contaminate crops in the field, during harvest, or during storage. Exposure to aflatoxins is associated with an increased risk of liver cancer.
Egemba urged Nigerians to prioritise fresh produce and proper storage, warning against cutting off visibly rotten portions of food, as contamination may already have spread internally. He advised that grains and food items showing unusual smell or signs of dampness should be discarded immediately, stressing proper storage in cool and dry environments.
This point was echoed by other medical experts. Dr. Francis Salama Stephanie, a medical officer, noted that visible warning signs of contamination include white or black patches, leaking fluid, foul smells, and the presence of maggots. She warned that consuming contaminated tomatoes can trigger food poisoning caused by bacteria such as Escherichia coli and Salmonella, leading to abdominal pain, diarrhoea, and vomiting.
A critical concern raised by health authorities is the mistaken belief that heat renders contaminated tomatoes harmless. The General Manager of the Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency (LASCOPA), Afolabi Solebo, stressed that “cooking, boiling or frying contaminated tomatoes may not eliminate the harmful toxins, thereby making such food unsafe for human consumption.
Solebo also warned consumers against purchasing spoiled tomatoes simply because they are cheaper, stressing that health and safety should always take precedence over cost considerations.
The warning comes amid growing concern over food safety standards in Nigeria. According to the World Health Organisation, Nigeria suffers over one million cases of food-borne illnesses annually, resulting in economic losses exceeding $3.6 billion.
Consumers are encouraged to dispose of contaminated food safely and report traders selling unsafe or expired food items to relevant government authorities.
Health experts emphasise that avoiding spoiled produce is not merely a matter of personal preference — it is a matter of public health.
