Spoiled tomatoes. Credit: The Lagos State Govt
Popular health influencer and medical doctor, Chinonso Egemba, widely known as Aproko Doctor, has warned Nigerians against the consumption of spoiled tomatoes and other fungus-infested food items popularly referred to as “Ata Esha” or “Awarawa,” saying they may pose serious health risks if consumed regularly.
Egemba, in a viral health advisory posted on x on Monday, cautioned that some of the visibly rotten tomatoes in circulation contain harmful fungal growths that could produce toxins dangerous to human health.
“This tomatoe commonly called spoiled 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.
He explained that the white substances often seen inside such tomatoes are caused by fungi that can produce aflatoxins, which he described as hazardous when consumed over time.
