Osinbajo: How we found fresh orange juice my wife drank unsafe for consumption

Former Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo has disclosed that laboratory testing of freshly squeezed orange juice consumed by his wife, Dolapo, found the drink unfit for human consumption.

Osinbajo made the disclosure while speaking at the Open Day for Gardeners’ Seminar, themed “Leaving the Earth Better Than We Found It,” held in Lagos on August 28.

A video of the event, later published on Osinbajo’s YouTube channel, has since attracted attention on social media.

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--> According to the former vice-president, his wife had stopped taking carbonated drinks and switched to freshly squeezed orange juice because she considered it a healthier alternative.

--> However, he said she began experiencing unexplained headaches after making the juice part of her daily routine.

“But after a while she started having some strange headaches drinking her fresh juice every day,” Osinbajo said.

He explained that Dolapo subsequently reviewed the food and drinks she was consuming in an attempt to identify a possible cause of the headaches.

Osinbajo said she eventually sent a sample of the freshly squeezed orange juice to a laboratory for analysis.

“The results came back. It showed that the orange juice freshly squeezed was not fit for human consumption,” he said.

The former vice-president did not disclose the specific substance detected in the sample or provide details of the laboratory report.

‘Fresh does not always mean safe’

Osinbajo used the incident to draw attention to what he described as the potential dangers posed by the use of chemicals at different stages of Nigeria’s food supply chain.

He alleged that some farmers and traders use pesticides and other chemicals to protect, ripen or preserve fruits and vegetables.

He specifically mentioned calcium carbide, which he said is sometimes used to accelerate the ripening of fruits such as bananas, mangoes, pawpaw and tomatoes.

He also cited substances including Sniper, phosphite, DDT and brodifacoum, saying some of them have allegedly been used within parts of the food supply chain.

Osinbajo referenced studies in Ekiti, Oyo and Lagos states which, according to him, documented the use of chemicals by some fruit and vegetable sellers.

He said a 2024 study in Ekiti found that 10 of 20 fruit sellers interviewed admitted using calcium carbide, while another study in Oyo reportedly found that 25 percent of surveyed fruit sellers admitted using the substance.

He further said a 2023 survey involving 50 fruit and vegetable retailers in Lagos found that 22 admitted using chemicals to preserve their produce.

“So, the fact that fruit looks fresh doesn’t mean that it is safe,” he said.

“And the fact that a drink is natural doesn’t mean that something dangerous has not been added to it along the way, especially along the journey from the farm to the table.”

What WHO says about pesticide residues

The World Health Organisation says pesticides can be toxic to humans, although the health risk depends on factors including the type of chemical, dose and route of exposure.

WHO notes that pesticide residues can remain on food when agricultural chemicals are not used according to approved practices. It recommends monitoring food for residues and enforcing maximum residue limits designed to protect consumers.

The organisation also advises consumers to wash or peel fruits and vegetables where appropriate, noting that washing can reduce pesticide residues as well as other foodborne hazards.

WHO and the Food and Agriculture Organisation regularly assess pesticides and establish health-based guidance, including acceptable daily intakes and maximum residue levels used in food-safety regulation. Their 2025 assessment, published in 2026, reviewed 38 pesticides and included evaluations of toxicology, residues and dietary exposure.

Call for stronger regulation

Osinbajo called for stronger regulation and enforcement across Nigeria’s food production and distribution chain to prevent potentially harmful substances from reaching consumers.

He also urged farmers and traders to adopt safer agricultural and preservation practices while calling for greater public awareness about food safety.

The former vice-president advised consumers to ask questions about how produce is grown and handled, wash fruits and vegetables properly and report suspicious practices to relevant authorities.

His comments came against the backdrop of wider discussions on food security, nutrition and sustainable agriculture in Africa.

The Africa Food Systems Forum, held in Kigali, Rwanda, shortly before Osinbajo’s remarks, brought together policymakers, farmers, researchers, investors and development partners to discuss the transformation of Africa’s food systems, including food safety, nutrition, agricultural productivity and resilience.

Osinbajo’s account highlights a broader food-safety challenge: food that appears fresh, natural or healthy may still require proper handling and testing before its safety can be guaranteed.