The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has threatened to deal ruthlessly with smugglers and dealers found with the banned products, reported the New Telegraph in the country.

A report from a study conducted by Professor Olumide Tewe, a Nutritional Toxicologist at the University of Ibadan, and his colleagues, had raised concern over the economic and health implications of consumption of imported poultry products.

Reasons for the concerns were the presence of potentially toxic metals, food borne diseases and high formalin levels in the meats.

At a press conference and presentation of the study, entitled 'Prevalence, Quality and Acceptability of Frozen Poultry Meat in Major Cities in Nigeria', the Director-General of NAFDAC, Dr Paul Orhii, said these products are preserved with hazardous chemicals.

Dr Orhii, who noted that imported products would no longer be tolerated to the detriment of the health of Nigerians, said NAFDAC will begin strict enforcement of the ban on imported poultry products.

Citing the study carried out in Abuja, Port Harcourt, Oyo and Lagos states, Dr Orhii noted that improperly imported poultry products pose grave dangers to consumers, handlers and environment.

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