Akorede is the Director, Dietetics Department at Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital, Ile-Ife, Osun.

He told the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, at Ile-Ife on Saturday that the popular mode of burning cow hide on naked fire to produce “ponmo’’ was deleterious to health.

He stressed that the process of burning cow hide on naked fire made the product to become potential source of cancer when consumed regularly.

“Where it is well processed, ‘ponmo’ is a good source of protein, water, energy and micronutrients which contain fibre that aid digestion.

“In producing `ponmo’, processors should regulate the exposure of the cow hide to naked fire so as to minimise the formation of nitrates on them.

“`Ponmo’ can also serve as alternative to meat as it is cheap and affordable,’’ Dr Akorede said.

The dietician urged consumers to ensure they took `ponmo’ alongside other protein-rich sources like meat, fish, crayfish and soya balls to complement their protein supply.

He charged the federal government to reduce taxes on fish and chicken so as to make them affordable as source of protein.

“More people should be encouraged to take to animal husbandry to reduce the in-take of `ponmo’, however,’’ Akorede said.

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Prof. Muhammad Yakubu, Director-General of institute, said on Sunday in Abuja that the legislation was necessary to revive the comatose leather industry in the country.

According to him, the habit of eating animals skin, which has no nutritional value, should be stopped in order to save the industry and boost the nation’s economy.

“To the best of my knowledge, Nigerians are the only people in the world that over value skin as food, after all ‘Pomo’ has no nutritional value,” he said.

The D-G said the institute, in collaboration with stakeholders in the industry, would approach National Assembly and state governments to bring out legislation banning ‘Pomo’ consumption.

READ ALSO: Why most ‘Ponmo’ can cause cancer, liver problems  –NAFDAC

“At a point, there was a motion before the two chambers of the National Assembly, it was debated, but I don`t know how the matter was thrown away,” he said.

According to him, the consumption of animals skin is partly responsible for the present comatose state of tanneries in Nigeria.

“If we get our tanneries, our footwear and leather production working well in Nigeria, people will hardly get ‘Pomo’ to buy and eat,’’ Yakubu said.

The D-G also said that the current National Leather Policy had addressed some fundamental problems of the sector.

“When implemented fully, it would turn around most of the comatose tanneries and ginger greater output in production,’’ he said.

He appealed to stakeholders to support the legislation and the national leather policy to revive to revive the sector.

NILEST was set up to promote leather production as provided in the Agricultural Research Institute Act of 1975.

It conducts research into all aspects of production and products of leather and utilization of local tanning materials in the country.

Source: NAN

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“Animal skin known as “ponmo’’ is harmful to the body; it has no nutritional value.

“Run away from meat, especially red meat. If you want to eat chicken, eat the local one.

“Consumption of animal protein can lead to diseases. More importantly, it causes cancer and death,’’ the microbiologist said while addressing a seminar on “Lifestyle, Diseases and Management’’ at the university.

“Millions of cases of food poisoning are recorded every year which are traceable to the consumption of meat, especially those with mad cow disease and helminthic infestations,’’ he said.

Oloke asserted that cancer was not only preventable but curable and added that 60 per cent of chronic diseases could be prevented through healthy diets.

He added that other lifestyle measures to stave off cancer and other diseases included managing stress, avoiding toxins such as alcohol and tobacco, regular exercise and adequate sleep.

“One of the things that cancer cells thrive on is sugar; so if you can take off the consumption of sugar from any cancer patient, you would have helped the patient.

“Some foods and fruits such as banana, apple, pineapple and carbohydrates are high in sugar content.

“Cancer patients should also avoid animal-based milk and consume plant-based milk,’’ he said.

“Beans are the best meal for those suffering from cancer; beans prepared with olive oil and not red oil.

“Others are snails, Croaker fish, cabbage and leafy vegetables. These are good and nutritious for cancer patients,’’ he added.

The vice-chancellor also said that with proper nutrition, cancer cells could be killed, noting that consumption of walnuts and Soya products, but not Soya oil could kill cancer.

“Soya milk is good for breast cancer cure,’’ Oloke stressed.

The Professor of Microbiology who has won many local and international awards, further stressed that with a good diet, man could live beyond 100 years.

“Eating vegetables is one of the surest ways of staying healthy. Sugar or sweet things are the greatest enemies of man,’’ he told the seminar.

Oloke also noted that while plant-based foods lowered diabetes and liver risks, consumption of vegetables helped a great deal in controlling sugar levels.

The don listed some other foods that could decrease the possibility of heart attack, stroke and cancer to include avocado pear, green tea, and natural orange juice.

He warned, however, that consumers should moderate their intake.

“In Europe during World War II, the death rate caused by heart disease fell as people were forced to eat less cholesterol-ridden foods.

“In other words, it is better for your heart if you eat a low fat vegetarian diet while bombs drop around you than to enjoy your steak in peace,’’ he mused.

Oloke enjoined people to work out their lifestyles stressing that “rhythmic activities of the mind and body, including hormones, circulation, digestion, brain waves and state of consciousness support healthy living.”

“Realise that your next day begins when you go to sleep. Maintain a healthy Body Max Index, good nutrition, regular exercise and a spiritual practice,’’ he advised.

Source: NAN

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Consuming them, the agency said, could lead to cancer, liver and heart damage among other such diseases.

It explained that most of the hides, were usually imported into the country legally for industrial use and  pre-treated with industrial chemicals not good for human consumption.

According to NAFDAC, the hides which were not of food grade and toxic were injurious to human health.

The warning was given in a statement by the Director General of NAFDAC, Mrs Mojisola Adeyeye.

The statement reads in part: “The Management of NAFDAC wishes to use this medium to alert the general public and in particular consumers of animal hides popularly known as Ponmo on the activities of some unscrupulous business men and traders.

“These imported animal hides are meant for industrial use by leather industries for the manufacturing of items such as shoes, bag, belt and others.

“Health hazards inherent in the consumption of such animal hides include risk of liver, kidney and heart damage, increased risk of Aplastic anaemia, central nervous system toxicity, cancer and many more.’’

The statement reads further:  “NAFDAC, therefore, encourages the general public to be vigilant and exercise discretion when purchasing animal hides, Ponmo and indeed other food items.’’

The agency said it had increased the tempo of targeted and aggressive routine and unannounced inspections to monitor activities of animal hide merchants.

It explained that its actions would ensure that only food grade animal hide, Ponmo, was sold as food article in the markets.

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This was made known on Sunday by the Public Relations Officer of the Lagos State Police Command, Mr. Bala Elkana.

In a statement he issued to that effect, he said the people were arrested following a tip off.

The statement reads in part:  “On May 5, at about 5 a.m., acting on the strength of information from a credible source that a truck load of cow skins, popularly called ‘ponmo’, suspected to be poisonous were heaped in a warehouse at No. 9, College road, Igando, a team of police officers led by the Divisional Police Officer Igando, mobilised to the scene.

“The huge pillage and pyramid of poisonous ponmo and the chemicals used in the preservation of the cow skins were recovered.

“One TATA Truck with registration number AKD-375-XB which was used in conveying the goods was impounded

“Officials of Lagos State Ministry of Health were contacted and after due examination, the cow skins were confirmed to be poisonous and not fit for human consumption.

“Six suspects, Adelowo Yinka, 50; Olawumi Onabanjo, 40; Omowumi Wasiu, 43; Adeshokan Taiwo, 43; Iyabo Oluwa, 38 and Taye Kazeem, 40, were arrested in connection with the case.’’

Elkana said “investigation is ongoing to ascertain the source and destinations of those poisonous food items, and suspects will be charged to court.’’ he said. (NAN)

The police assured the people of the state that they would continue to protect their lives and property.

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The arrest was made known on Sunday by the Director of Public Affairs, Ministry of Health, Lagos State, Adeola Salako.

Salako made the disclosure just as he warned members of the public against buying the poisonous “ponmo”.

In a statement he issued, Salako said the three persons were involved in the sale of the poisonous “ponmo” in Ojo and Iba local government areas of the state.

He said the “ponmo” which was in large quantity had been seized and samples sent to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, to test their suitability for consumption.

“The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris, who disclosed this in his office today (Sunday) while reviewing report of preliminary investigation and enforcement carried out on the sale of the toxic ponmo in the areas, stated that the three persons involved have been charged to court, while samples of the confiscated ponmo had been sent to the NAFDAC laboratory for suitability test analysis for human consumption,” the statement reads in part.

“Preliminary investigations and suspects tracing revealed that the traders were very active in the early hours between the hours 4.00am and 6.00am at various locations such as Volkswagen bus stop, Iyana Iba, Afolabi Ege Markets, all within Ojo local government and Iba local council areas of the State.

“Furthermore, a company said to be located at ijedodo area of Iba LCDA was indicted as source of supply of this toxic Ponmo and has subsequently been put under surveillance,” the statement reads further.

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