BBNaija’s Tjay Warns Nigerians About Possible Health Risks of Eating Shawa Fish
Kehinde Adeleye
Former Big Brother Naija housemate and medical doctor, Tjay, has raised concerns over the possible health risks associated with consuming shawa fish, warning that the popular dried fish could contain mould, cancer-linked chemicals and heavy metals.
Tjay raised the concerns in a video shared on social media, where he identified a whitish substance on the fish as mould and warned about the possible presence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), a group of chemicals associated with cancer risks.
He cautioned Nigerians against assuming that soaking the fish before cooking was enough to eliminate potentially harmful substances.
“Guys, see this shawa, this dry fish is one of the most toxic fishes that we eat in the country,” he said.
The former reality TV star advised consumers to soak the fish in water for at least one hour before removing its head and skin.
He claimed that about 50 per cent of the toxins were concentrated in the head, urging consumers to pay attention to how the fish was cleaned and prepared.
Tjay also recommended buying smaller-sized shawa fish, claiming they were less likely to contain harmful substances.
“The tiny ones are less toxic,” he added.
His comments have drawn attention to food safety concerns surrounding the processing, storage and consumption of dried fish, a common ingredient in Nigerian meals.
However, the claims about toxin concentrations in different parts and sizes of shawa fish would require scientific verification.
