For most families across Nigeria, heading to a roadside grinder to blend pepper, tomatoes, beans, or grains is part of daily life — quick, cheap, and convenient. But what if that simple routine is quietly putting people at risk?
An investigative report in Lagos has uncovered troubling levels of heavy metal contamination in foods processed with local metal grinding machines. From iron particles scraped off worn-out discs to grease residue used to keep machines running, the contamination can build up in food — and later, in the body.
“I Stopped Long Ago”
For 10 years, Lagos resident Hadi Yusuf has refused to let his family grind pepper outside. “I need to protect my family,” he said, explaining that there’s no way to know how clean the machines are or what they previously processed.
Another resident, Sani Shuaib, said his concern started the day he saw black particles sprinkled on top of his ground beans. That discovery ended his family’s visits to street grinders. The next day, he bought three blenders.
These fears are not exaggerated — they are now backed by science.
A Shocking Discovery in the Lab
Samples of pepper ground at different Lagos markets were quietly taken to a federal laboratory at the University of Lagos — and the results were disturbing. One sample contained iron levels more than 30 times above acceptable limits.
Researchers warned that small metal particles shed from the grinders can find their way directly into food. Chronic exposure doesn’t always show symptoms immediately — instead, metals accumulate in the body, especially in children and pregnant women.
Doctors say over time, this may lead to:
- Damage to the liver and kidneys
- Digestive problems and severe abdominal pain
- Increased risk of cancer
- Weakened immunity
- Heart complications
Heavy metal exposure is not a “one-day” danger — it is long-term and cumulative.
Vendors Often Unaware
Grinding machine operators are just trying to earn a living, and most do not know their grinders can pose health risks.
A vendor in Lagos, Iya Lisa, insisted her machines are cleaned thoroughly. She has run her business for over 25 years, sending two children to university through grinding work. Many like her have never heard a complaint.
Others admit the machines wear down over time. Grinding discs grind against each other every day — and that friction shaves off tiny metal particles. Old grease can also leak into food if not replaced regularly.
One vendor, when shown the lab findings, sighed and said:
“Only God will save us.”
A Systemwide Food Safety Gap
Experts say the issue goes beyond grinders alone. Weak regulation and limited laboratory capacity make routine food testing rare. Even government empowerment programs sometimes distribute machines that are not food-grade.
Entrepreneurs like Roberta Edu-Oyedokun — whose product failed a random inspection due to machine contamination — are calling for urgent action:
“Please stop distributing these grinders in the name of empowerment. They are not food-grade.”
She switched back to a kitchen blender — and the contamination disappeared.
What Needs to Happen
Public health specialists recommend:
✔ Government regulation of food-processing equipment
✔ Regular inspection and certification of grinding shops
✔ Awareness campaigns for both vendors and consumers
✔ Encouraging safer stainless-steel or coated grinder designs
✔ Expanded laboratory testing capacity across states
Households can also take preventive steps — using home blenders where possible or requesting hand-washing and cleaning before grinding.
Protecting What We Eat
Food should nourish, not harm. Yet millions of Nigerians unknowingly ingest tiny pieces of metal every day simply by preparing meals the usual way.
This isn’t a reason to panic — but a reason to act.
Safer machines, stronger awareness, and government accountability can ensure that a simple bowl of pepper soup is never a silent threat.
Because staying healthy shouldn’t depend on whether you can afford a blender.