The National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has warned Nigerians to stop using paracetamol as tenderizer, while cooking meat and beans.

While making a speech at a sensitization program for fast food operators and food vendors on dangers of using the medicine to cook, NAFDAC’s coordinator in Kwara State, Mrs. Roseline Ajayi affirmed that the use of paracetamol in tenderizing meat and other foods can cause kidney and liver failure.

She said paracetamol, which belongs to a family of drugs classified as analgesic and anti-pyretics, is only utilized to treat pain and fever.

She said:

The use of paracetamol to tenderize meat and beans while cooking may be considered as a way to cut cost, but with grievous and unprecedented health implications, which include liver and kidney failure.

Foods are not drugs and it’s a necessity for life, while drug is indicated for or against ailment.

When drug is used for cooking, it is hydrolyzed or broken down into components, which include 4-aminophenol, a highly toxic chemical to the kidney and liver.

NAFDAC is compelled to respond to the emerging food safely issues, which is capable of consuming the health of several unsuspecting and innocent victims and citizens.

Justin Nwosu

Justin Nwosu is the founder and publisher of Flavision. His core interest is in writing unbiased news about Nigeria in particular and Africa in general. He’s a strong adherent of investigative journalism, with a bent on exposing corruption, abuse of power and societal ills.