The Ogun State government has warned its people against the consumption of hide and skin otherwise known as
‘Ponmo’ after it discovered that alot of poisonous cattle hide and skin have recently populated the markets.
The government said some unscrupulous businessmen were taking advantage of the gap in demand and supply of the soup ingredient, ‘Ponmo’ to sell industrial ‘Ponmo’ laden with tanning chemicals to the unsuspecting public.
The State Commissioner for Agriculture, Ronke Sokefun raised the alarm, yesterday, while addressing stakeholders and ‘Ponmo’ sellers in her office, in Abeokuta.
Sokefun explained that the toxic ‘Ponmo’ otherwise known as ‘imported ponmo’ is often brownish black, foul smelling, abnormally thick with layers and ridiculously cheap compared to the certified ponmo.
According to her, what is being sold is raw hide meant for leather production from African and European countries like Sudan, Italy and Japan.
"Tanning chemicals like biocides and fungicides are added along the processing chain to preserve the hides against protein degradation, bacteria and mould growth that would have damaged the hides and skin".
She said.
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