Osinbajo: How we found fresh orange juice my wife drank unsafe for consumption

Former Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo revealed that laboratory tests on freshly squeezed orange juice consumed by his wife, Dolapo, found the drink to be unsafe for consumption. Osinbajo shared the incident at the Open Day for Gardeners’ Seminar in Lagos on August 28, which focused on the theme "Leaving the Earth Better Than We Found It."

The former vice-president explained that Dolapo had switched to freshly squeezed orange juice following her decision to avoid carbonated drinks. However, she began experiencing unexplained headaches after making the juice a daily part of her routine. After reviewing her food and drink intake, Dolapo sent a sample of the orange juice for laboratory analysis.

The test results indicated that the freshly squeezed juice was not fit for human consumption. Osinbajo used this incident to draw attention to the potential dangers posed by chemicals in Nigeria’s food supply chain. He highlighted the use of pesticides and other chemicals by some farmers and traders, including calcium carbide, Sniper, phosphite, DDT, and brodifacoum.

He emphasized that the appearance of freshness doesn’t necessarily mean a product is safe, and a drink can still be hazardous even if it is natural. Osinbajo called for stronger regulation and enforcement of food production and distribution practices, urging farmers, traders, and consumers to adopt safer methods and be more vigilant about food safety.