Date: 2016-09-19

A medical expert, Dr Owolabi Adebayo, of the Forties Hospital, Ilorin, has warned Nigerians against eating and drinking rusted canned foods.

Adebayo, who gave the warning in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ilorin on Monday, said that eating from rusted containers could cause some lower forms of tetanus in the body.

He said rusted cans could have tiny holes which allowed bacteria to enter the food or drink, adding that any case as such could be disastrous to the health.

The medical expert condemned the habits of some Nigerians who consumed foods and drinks from rusted containers, stressing that this could also cause cancer.

"There are some things people do not take serious, and one of them is drinking and eating from rusted containers because they may not be aware of the health implications.

"Rusted cans have tiny holes which allowed bacteria to penetrate the foods or drinks consumed by many Nigerians. "Nigerians should stop consuming food from rusted containers because that is serious food poisoning," he said.

He also advised dealers not to store foods and drinks in cans under the sun or rain for too long to avoid rusting before they were distributed.

Adebayo called on the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to take adequate measures to ensure that manufacturers and dealers do not circulate rusted canned foods and drinks in the country.

NAN