The Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency (LASCOPA) has warned residents against consuming rotten or fungus-infested tomatoes, citing serious health risks linked to toxic fungal contamination.

In a statement shared via the Lagos State Government’s official X handle on Sunday, the agency urged consumers to carefully inspect food items before purchase and avoid visibly spoilt produce.

LASCOPA General Manager, Afolabi Solebo, cautioned that tomatoes with white, green, or black fungal growth may contain harmful toxins such as aflatoxins, which can cause liver damage and other illnesses.

He stressed that cooking, boiling, or frying contaminated tomatoes does not eliminate the toxins, making them unsafe for consumption regardless of preparation.

Solebo advised residents not to be swayed by the cheaper prices of spoilt produce, insisting that health should come first.

The agency also encouraged members of the public to report traders selling expired or unsafe food items, adding that enforcement teams have been deployed across markets to curb the sale of contaminated goods.

The warning follows a viral video allegedly showing two women taking maggot-infested tomatoes and peppers to a grinding mill in Mile 12 for food preparation. Authorities said one suspect has been arrested while another remains at large.