How influx of ‘bad’ cooking oil destroys consumer health, economyAs experts allege ‘grand conspiracy’ against the local palm oil industry,investigates how Nigeria became a dumping ground for unhealthy cooking oil, high in cholesterol killing thousands annually.IBADAN-BASED chartered accountant, Gbolahan Olubisi, knew nothing about Trans Fatty Acids otherwise known as trans fats till he landed at the cardiovascular disease wing of the University College Hospital , Ibadan, Oyo State, in 2019.
That was the beginning of his three-month stay at the CVD department of UCH. He said, “We had to send our children to our parents, while my wife stopped work temporarily to stay with me at the hospital. In the process, I lost my job; my wife only kept hers because she works in the state’s Ministry. Till date, I’m yet to recover from the physical, economic, and social loss.”
But Olubisi probably has it easier, unlike Gabriel Ogwu, who has been suffering from CVD for 25 years. Since he started treatment, however, the 65-year-old said his cholesterol level has reduced. Trans fats increase the level of bad cholesterol in the blood and the risk of heart disease. It also increases body weight, which is one of the leading causes of obesity and heart disease in children. It can also lead to cancer, argued health experts.
In Nigeria, the figure is even scarier. The Executive Director, Nigerian Heart Foundation Dr. Kingsley Akinroye, disclosed that CVDs are top of the death chain of non-communicable diseases in Nigeria. It tops cancer, chronic respiratory diseases, diabetes and sickle cell disease. In reference to WHO 2018 reports, CVDs account for 11%of deaths recorded under NCDs, cancer , and diabetes .
He calculated that of all the risk factors of CVD in Nigeria, unhealthy diet resulting from excessive intake of foods high in TFA is number one followed by physical inactivity and abnormal lipids .But while other countries have taken a giant step to eradicate trans fat via legislation, Nigeria is still at the drafting stage of its laws.
Rolf Rosencrantz, Associate Director, Communications, Global Health Advocacy Incubator , said it is possible for Nigeria to attain the WHO landmark for trans fat free world. By 2018, 23 countries have complied with Denmark blazing the trail in 2013 with legislations and enforcement. Canada, Austria, Hungary, Iceland, Norway, Latvia, Slovenia, Sweden, Armenia, Belarus, Kazahkstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Russia have followed suit to limiting Trans fats to 2% of total fat content in fats and oils.
WHO Nigerians cannot even afford the junk food !
The blame is subtly shifted to the innocent consumers whereas it is the fault of the regulatory agencies set up by the government. Most of them are complicit in this with their failure to sanitize the market.
At least some of us get to die happy🤷. Eating what we love...
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