Aproko doctor warns Nigerians against consumption of rotten tomatoes

By Enitan Abdultawab

Popular health influencer and medical doctor, Chinonso Egemba, popularly known as Aproko Doctor, has warned Nigerians against consuming spoilt tomatoes and other fungus-infested food items popularly known as “Ata Esha” or “Awarawa”, saying they may pose serious health risks.

The doctor, in a viral health advisory shared on his X account on Monday, cautioned that visibly rotten tomatoes may contain harmful fungal growth capable of producing dangerous toxins.

“This tomato, commonly called ‘spoilt tomatoes’ (ata esha) or ‘awarawa’… there’s a poison inside this tomato that a lot of you don’t know about, but you’re eating it every day,” he said.

According to him, the white substances often found inside rotten tomatoes are caused by fungi that produce aflatoxins, which can become harmful when consumed repeatedly over time.

“Those white things inside the tomato are caused by a fungus that produces a toxin known as aflatoxin, which causes liver cancer in adults. If you give it to children, it can cause stunted growth as well as other things,” he added.

Egemba noted that the risk is not limited to tomatoes alone, explaining that food items such as corn, onions, groundnuts and grains stored in damp or poor conditions may also become contaminated.

He warned that many consumers often purchase such products because they are cheaper, without considering the health implications.

“You might think you are saving money by eating this type of tomato, but you are actually risking your life,” he said, adding that contaminated ingredients are sometimes used in meals sold at restaurants.

The medical doctor further advised Nigerians against merely cutting away visibly rotten parts of food, stressing that contamination may have already spread internally.

He urged consumers to discard grains or food items with unusual smells or signs of dampness and ensure food is stored in cool, dry conditions.

According to the National Cancer Institute, aflatoxins are toxins produced by fungi commonly found on crops such as maize, peanuts, cottonseed and tree nuts.

The institute explained that the fungi — mainly Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus — thrive in warm and humid conditions and may contaminate crops during harvesting, storage or processing.

It added that exposure to aflatoxins has been linked to an increased risk of liver cancer.

Vanguard also recalls that the Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency had also previously warned residents against consuming fungus-infested tomatoes, urging consumers to avoid products showing white, green or black fungal patches.

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