Nigerian medical doctor and social media health influencer, Chinonso Egemba, popularly known as Aproko Doctor, has raised an important health alert regarding the potential risks of consuming poorly processed Garri. In a video posted on Monday, Dr. Egemba cautioned that improperly handled Garri could lead to severe health issues, including possible blindness, due to the presence of harmful substances in cassava—the raw material from which Garri is made.
Dr. Egemba explained that cassava contains naturally occurring compounds called cyanogenic glycosides, specifically linamarin and lotaustralin. During the traditional processing of cassava into Garri, these compounds can be converted into hydrogen cyanide—a toxic substance harmful to the human body if consumed in significant quantities.
“This hydrogen cyanide can start to affect certain tissues in your body. And one of the things it can affect is your eye – the optic nerve and the retina,” he stated in the video. Click here to watch.
Referencing a scientific study, Egemba added, “There is even research that showed that people who drink Garri more have less visual acuity than people who don’t.” This, he emphasized, highlights the need for caution when consuming Garri, especially from unknown or unregulated sources.
However, Dr. Egemba clarified that Garri is not inherently dangerous if processed correctly. “During proper processing—the fermenting, drying, all the processes involved—the hydrogen cyanide that is dangerous is reduced to the lowest amount possible. So if your Garri is properly processed, it will not lead to blindness,” he explained.
How to Identify Safe Garri: Expert Tips
To help consumers identify safer options, he advised looking out for Properly Dried, Crispy, and Sour Garri. According to him, Garri that feels moist may signal insufficient fermentation and drying, which could mean higher levels of residual toxins.
The health advocate also encouraged consumers to purchase sealed and NAFDAC-approved Garri as a safer alternative to loose or locally sold varieties. “The most important question you should be asking when it comes to your Garri is: Who processed it? Was it processed properly?” he said.
Dr. Egemba concluded by calling on the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to increase monitoring and inspections of Garri sold in local markets to ensure public health and safety.
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