By Fatima Muraina

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As the prices of rice is set to crash following the lift of ban on importation of 43 restricted items , Nigerians have been cautioned on the consumption of imported rice to avoid health hazards.

Ondo state Chairman of Sunshine rice, Mr. George Olabode gave the warning in a chat with The Hope yesterday in Akure.

 He said people should know the origin of what they are consuming is coming from before they consume such foods which may have implication on their health.

“The implication of importation of rice is another serious challenge to look into because most of these rice were given for peace keeping measures.

“Most of them are abandoned products shipped to Cotonou which were later brought for sales to unsuspecting buyers,” he affirmed.

“Some of them are just not good for our consumption and in those countries, you see that they eat fresh rice from their farms, and not those packaged for exportation which they do not even eat it in their restaurants.” He stated.

Olabode observed an increase in liver and kidney diseases over the times saying that there is a rise in disease due to consumption of products people don’t know their origin.

According to him, consumable rice are cleaned up and brushed up with oil and other chemicals to brighten them up and given series of names to make them attractive and acceptable in the market while they are unsafe for consumption.

He also observed that unhealthy consumption of such food have affected the men, leading to low sperm count and several other diseases, reducing the life span of the people.

Confirming some as  plastic rice brought from China, Olabode emphasized that Nigeria has what it takes to produce what it could feed its citizens with but that extra efforts be made to support the practicing farmers in the farm.