By Kemi Olatunde

Ondo State Government has warned retailers of plastic bottled drinks, water and sachets to desist from displaying and exposing their products in the Sun due to its health implications on consumers.

Administrative Secretary, Ondo State Environmental Protection Agency, (OSEPA), Princess Korede Giwa spoke during an advocacy campaign against exposing consumables especially plastic drinks and satchet water  in the Sun, embarked upon by the Agency along major streets in Akure.

Addressing distributors, retailers and consumers of plastic bottled drinks and water and plastic water sachet at their Point of Sales the team visited, Giwa underscored the need for sellers of consumables to adhere strictly to the best practices obtained in storage and selling their wares as stipulated by the  manufacturers of the products.

Giwa who further stressed on the adverse health effects inherent in consumption of plastic bottled drinks, water and sachets already exposed to the inappropriate weather conditions especially Sun ray enjoined sellers of the products to store their products in cool and dry places and provide or construct shelter to protect the displayed products from direct sunlight.

Director, Pollution Control, Pastor Oladipo Obanoye, said  exposing packaged bottled water, drinks and sachets to the  Sun is an invitation to serious health challenge.

According to him, any plastic bottled drinks or water exposed to Sun ray naturally undergo chemical processes and reactions over a period of time due to the effects of heat on the plastic and the products which are injurious to human consumption.

The high point of the campaign was the issuance of abatement notice to one of the major distributors of Plastic bottled drinks & water along Oda road to construct shed  for the protection of their products  exposed to direct ray of sunlight within fifteen days.