ABEOKUTA—Ogun State government has raised an alarm over the
discovery of poisonous cattle hide and skin otherwise known as
‘Ponmo’ in some markets in the state, warning the people against its
consumption.
The government said some unscrupulous businessmen were taking
advantage of the gap in demand and supply of the soup ingredient
popularly called ‘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,PLEASE ALWAYS CHECK THE PONMO BEFORE BUYIN IT OR THE PEOPLE OF OGUN STATE SHLD AVOID EATING IT FOR NOW.
