ALERT: Retailers using ‘sniper’ to preserve beans, says CPC

The Consumer Protection Council (CPC) says it has confirmed that retailers in the open market are using a pesticide popularly known as sniper to preserve beans.

In 2017, some traders were arrested in Lagos for using the pesticide, and on Thursday, a video showing some of the traders using sniper to preserve beans had gone viral.

In an advisory signed on Friday by Babatunde Irukera, director-general of CPC, the council explained that the retailers might have set out to protect beans from weevils, but the chemical composition of the pesticide used is injurious.

“The Consumer Protection Council (CPC) has recently confirmed by credible information that retailers, mostly in the open market, are using a pesticide, 2,2-dichlorovinyl dimethyl phosphate (DDVP) compound otherwise marketed and known as “Sniper” to preserve beans, and more particularly eliminate or protect from weevils,” the statement read.

“There is no evidence that this process constitute any deliberate attempt by enterprise to injure consumers. Rather, and on the contrary, it is to protect and preserve the quality of the beans. However, Sniper by its chemical composition and nature is potentially injurious when people are unduly exposed by inhalation, absorption, direct skin contact or ingestion.

“There are significantly heightened risks to persons applying Sniper to the beans because of direct contact. However, risk of injury on account of consumption of beans exposed to, or treated with Sniper is also existential, even though, an unintended consequence.”

Although cooking generally eliminates or significantly reduces risk of exposure from pesticides, CPC added that consumers should make sufficient inquiries before buying, and parboil extensively, before further cooking for consumption.

An official at the CPC told TheCable that “they are carrying out surveillance and would update the public with further findings”.