The Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency (LASCOPA) has warned operators of pepper and mill grinding machines across the state against using rusty, corroded or poorly fabricated equipment, saying such practices could contaminate food and pose risks to consumers.
The agency urged operators to replace traditional cast-iron and other unsuitable locally fabricated machines with stainless-steel or other appropriate food-grade equipment.
The General Manager and Chief Executive Officer of LASCOPA, Afolabi Solebo, gave the warning following concerns raised at the 2026 Lagos State Food Safety Conference and Exhibition, held under the theme, “From Burden to Solutions – Safe Food Everywhere.”
Solebo said the widespread use of grinding machines by households, food vendors, restaurants, hospitals, boarding schools, caterers, traders and small-scale food businesses made compliance with basic food-safety standards essential.
According to him, worn-out, rusty or corroded components could increase the risk of metal contamination, while food residues, dirt and grease left behind from previous grinding activities could compromise food safety and quality.
He disclosed that LASCOPA’s Monitoring and Enforcement Officers would intensify compliance checks at food-processing and grinding points across the state, with regulatory action taken against establishments found using unsafe or unsuitable equipment.
Solebo also advised operators to thoroughly clean their machines after every use, remove food residues, maintain hygienic surroundings and regularly inspect and maintain grinding components to prevent contamination and cross-contamination.
Consumers, he said, also have a role to play in protecting themselves.
He urged Lagosians to be vigilant when patronising grinding points and to avoid locations where machines are visibly deteriorated or unhygienic.
The LASCOPA boss further appealed to politicians and other public-spirited individuals who provide grinding machines as empowerment initiatives to prioritise stainless-steel and food-grade equipment.
He stressed that consumer protection was a shared responsibility, assuring residents that the agency would continue its consumer enlightenment, market surveillance and enforcement activities to safeguard the health, safety and economic interests of Lagosians.
Solebo urged members of the public to report unsafe or unhygienic food-processing practices to LASCOPA for investigation and appropriate action, stressing that consumers should not remain silent when they encounter practices that could compromise their safety.
