Traders Turn to Artificial Colouring and Padding Tricks to Boost Food Sales

As consumer purchasing power continues to decline, many traders are resorting to new tactics to attract buyers and increase sales—often at the expense of food quality and safety.

From cassava (fufu), yam flour, palm oil, and blended pepper to melon and shrimp, adulteration in food items has become a growing concern. Economy&Lifestyle investigations revealed that fried and dried shrimps are the latest victims of manipulation, with sellers adding artificial colouring to give them a bright orange appearance.

“When you put these shrimps in a bowl of water, the colouring washes out instantly,” a source said, stressing how difficult it has become to get unadulterated foods in the market.

Caterer Mrs. Rashidat Lawani recounted her experience:
“Recently, I bought shrimp. When I wanted to wash it, I discovered that the water had already turned red, leaving the shrimp less colorful. I was so angry that I took the remaining shrimp to the woman to refund my money back. It was later I gathered that most shrimp sellers add artificial colouring to make it enticing to customers.”

The practice not only deceives customers but also poses health risks. Mr. Richard Momodu, a PoS agent, expressed his frustration:
“I used to like crayfish, prawn and shrimp. I bought shrimps a lot, but recently I stopped because I discovered the seller was using artificial colouring to make it more attractive. It is devastating to realize that over 50 per cent of what we eat is adulterated or tampered with all in the name of boosting sales. I stopped eating fufu when I heard some producers use detergent to speed up fermentation. It is only God that saves us from what we put in our stomach.”

The trend extends beyond seafood. Traders have also been padding moi moi leaves (Thaumatococcus daniellii) with pumpkin leaf stems to make bundles appear fuller.

Caterer Mrs. Tife Tajudeen shared her disappointment:
“I bought moi moi leaf recently. When I opened it, I was astonished. The leaves were not up to 20 pieces. The seller padded it with pumpkin leaf stems to make it fuller. I was not happy at all. How do you deceive customers all in the name of making gains? Everything in the market is either padded or adulterated.”

With rising inflation and economic strain, experts warn that food adulteration is becoming widespread, leaving consumers vulnerable to exploitation and potential health hazards.

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