Rotten Tomatoes in Nigerian Kitchens Pose ‘Silent Cancer Risk’- Doctor Warns
Otamere Gladness 
Dr Francis Salama Stephanie
ABUJA, Nigeria – Contaminated tomatoes sold across Nigerian markets may be exposing millions of households to dangerous toxins linked to food poisoning, chronic liver disease and cancer, a medical expert has warned.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with Africa Health Reporter on Saturday, Dr. Francis Salama Stephanie, a medical officer, said spoiled tomatoes remain a major but often ignored food safety threat in homes, restaurants and food outlets across the country.
She explained that tomatoes often become contaminated during harvesting, transportation, storage and unhygienic handling before reaching consumers.
“What tomatoes should look like, it should be firm and the skin should be intact,” she said.
“So clearly when the tomatoes are starting to get soft and they are breaking then it is a sign that the tomatoes may no longer be safe.”
According to her, visible warning signs include white or black patches, leaking fluid, foul smells and the presence of maggots.
Dr Salama said consuming contaminated tomatoes can trigger food poisoning caused by bacteria such as Escherichia coli and Salmonella, leading to abdominal pain, diarrhoea and vomiting.
More concerning, she warned, are molds that produce aflatoxins — toxic substances strongly associated with chronic liver disease and liver cancer.
“For chronic illnesses… you see things like chronic liver disease, which can then progress to liver cancer,” she said.
“There is also kidney disease and what usually causes this chronic illness from eating rotten tomatoes are fungi, particularly mold — this is a kind of toxin which is called aflatoxin.”
She urged Nigerians to avoid buying spoiled tomatoes despite rising economic hardship and advised vendors to improve storage and hygiene practices to reduce contamination risks.
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Korede Abdullah 
Oluwatobi Adu 