The Consumer Protection Council (CPC) has advised Nigerians to wash their beans and cook same very well before consumption.

This is due to reports making the rounds that retailers now use snipers to preserve beans.

The Council in a statement released by its Director General, Mr Babatunde Irukera, and made available to DAILY POST, advised consumers to also make sufficient enquiries before engaging in new purchases.

CPC said consumers should sufficiently wash their food items before cooking, noting that “in any and every case, thoroughly washing food items before consumption or preparation for consumption is a generally accepted method of protecting and promoting safety.”

”CPC has recently confirmed by credible information that retailers, mostly in the open market are using a pesticide, 2,2-dichlorovinyl dimethyl phosphate (DDVP) compound, otherwise marketed and known as “Sniper” to preserve beans, and more particularly to eliminate or protect same from weevils.”

While cautioning consumers on the dangers of using unauthorised chemical to preserve food items, Irukera, said though cooking significantly reduces risk of exposure from pesticides, “as most are diminished under extended periods of direct heat in excess of 100 degrees, the best possible caution is to avoid subjecting food items to pesticides not in accordance with prevailing food safety regulations”.

He added that the Council was also collaborating with other relevant regulators to address the emergent situation.