Lagos clamps down on unsafe pepper grinding machines

The Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency has issued a stern warning to operators of pepper and mill grinding machines, urging them to abandon the use of rusted, corroded, and poorly constructed equipment. The agency emphasized that such practices pose a significant risk of contaminating food and endangering consumers. Speaking at the Lagos State Food Safety Conference and Exhibition 2026, the General Manager and CEO of LASCOPA, Afolabi Solebo, highlighted the prevalence of these machines across various sectors, including households, food vendors, restaurants, hospitals, boarding schools, caterers, traders, and small-scale food businesses.

Solebo stressed that the agency would intensify its efforts to ensure compliance with food safety standards, with enforcement officers conducting heightened inspections at food-processing points across the state. He stressed that establishments found using unsafe equipment would face regulatory action. Solebo advised operators to maintain cleanliness and proper hygiene around their machines, regularly inspecting and maintaining grinding components to prevent contamination.

He also called on consumers to remain vigilant when selecting grinding points and to report any unsafe practices to the agency.