Doctor warns Nigerians against eating rotten tomatoes

By Enitan Abdultawab

Medical doctor and health influencer Chinonso Egemba, better known as Aproko Doctor, has cautioned Nigerians to avoid eating spoiled tomatoes and other fungus‑infested foods commonly referred to as “Ata Esha” or “Awarawa,” warning that they could pose serious health risks.

The doctor issued a viral health advisory on his X account on Monday, explaining that visibly rotten tomatoes may harbor harmful fungal growth that can produce dangerous toxins.

“This tomato, commonly called ‘spoilt tomatoes’ (ata esha) or ‘awarawa’… there’s a poison inside this tomato that a lot of you don’t know about, but you’re eating it every day,” he said.

According to Egemba, the white substances often found inside rotten tomatoes are produced by fungi that generate aflatoxins, which can become harmful when consumed repeatedly over time.

“Those white things inside the tomato are caused by a fungus that produces a toxin known as aflatoxin, which causes liver cancer in adults. If you give it to children, it can cause stunted growth as well as other things,” he added.

Egemba noted that the risk is not limited to tomatoes alone, adding that foods such as corn, onions, groundnuts and grains stored in damp or poor conditions may also become contaminated.

He warned that many consumers purchase such products because they are cheaper, without considering the health implications.

“You might think you are saving money by eating this type of tomato, but you are actually risking your life,” he said, adding that contaminated ingredients are sometimes used in meals sold at restaurants.

The doctor further advised Nigerians against merely cutting away visibly rotten parts of food, stressing that contamination may have already spread internally.

He urged consumers to discard grains or food items with unusual smells or signs of dampness and to store food in cool, dry conditions.

According to the National Cancer Institute, aflatoxins are toxins produced by fungi commonly found on crops such as maize, peanuts, cottonseed and tree nuts.

The institute explained that the fungi—mainly Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus—thrive in warm and humid conditions and may contaminate crops during harvesting, storage or processing.

It added that exposure to aflatoxins has been linked to an increased risk of liver cancer.

The Vanguard also recalls that the Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency had previously warned residents against consuming fungus‑infested tomatoes, urging consumers to avoid products showing white, green or black fungal patches.

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