News Express

Imported Apples Raise Fresh Food Safety Concerns The glossy red and green apples neatly arranged on supermarket shelves across Nigeria may not be as fresh as many consumers believe, raising fresh concerns about food preservation practices, product safety and consumer awareness. The concerns were highlighted by Chukwuemeka Onyemachi, a former employee of a fruit processing factory abroad, who shared firsthand insights into how imported apples are preserved, treated and transported before eventually reaching Nigerian markets. According to Onyemachi, many consumers assume apples sold in stores are recently harvested. However, he disclosed that the fruits often undergo extensive preservation processes designed to maintain their appearance and quality during long-distance transportation and prolonged storage. He explained that apples destined for export are commonly stored in cold rooms and treated with a chemical known as 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP), a substance used to slow the ripening ...