Former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has recounted how his wife, Dolapo, discovered that the freshly squeezed orange juice she regularly consumed was reportedly unsafe for human consumption.
Osinbajo shared the experience at the Open Day for Gardeners’ Seminar, themed “Leaving the Earth Better Than We Found It,” held in Lagos on August 28, 2026.
According to him, Dolapo began experiencing unexplained headaches every few days despite maintaining a healthy lifestyle, including drinking a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice daily.
After reviewing her diet without finding an obvious cause, she reportedly sent a batch of the juice to a laboratory for analysis.
Osinbajo said the test result showed that the juice was “not fit for human consumption.”
He said the discovery raised concerns about the chemicals sometimes used by farmers and traders to ripen or preserve fruits and vegetables.
The former vice president cited studies and surveys which, he said, indicated that some fruit sellers admitted using substances such as calcium carbide and other potentially toxic chemicals on produce.
He warned Nigerians against assuming that food is safe simply because it looks fresh or appears natural.
“The fact that fruit looks fresh doesn’t mean that it is safe,” he said.
Osinbajo called for stronger regulation and enforcement to curb unsafe food practices, while urging farmers and traders to adopt safer methods.
He also advised consumers to ask questions about the food they buy, wash fruits and vegetables properly, and report suspicious practices to relevant authorities.
He stressed that citizens also have a responsibility to speak up in their communities and advocate for safer food practices.