REASONS WHY EATING NIGERIAN LOCAL MEAT "SUYA" IS NOT GOOD FOR YOUR HEALTH

Although suya originated in the northern parts of Nigeria, it has permeated the Nigerian society, being affordable for all and available everywhere.it has been called a unifying factor in Nigeria. Suya has become a Nigerian national dish with different regions claiming the superiority of their recipe and methods of preparation, but similar grilled meat recipes are common in many west African countries.

Using open flames to grill meat leads to the production of chemicals called carcinogens which causes cancer in the body. They can be biological, physical, radiation or chemical and particularly exert their effects on people who are most sensitive to them. The most important is colonic cancer, which is the cancer in human beings is mostly caused as a result of people’s dietary habit.

The sanitary condition of suya preparation depends on where the consumer buys from. If for instance, a suya spot is close to a toilet, diseases can be spread and one can easily contract them but if one is buying it in a mall where it has been packaged, he or she might be safe.

What is suya?

By way of definition, suya is a spicy skewered meat which is a popular food item in various parts of Nigeria and is enjoyed as a delicacy in many parts of west Africa.it is traditionally prepared by Hausa people of Northern Nigeria,Cameroon, Niger and some parts of Sudan.

Health and safety issues associated with suya consumption.

Forget the dirty environment and poor or zero hygiene conditions in which suya is made and handled in many places in Nigeria, there are other dangers that are inherent in the consumption of suya- those that many would never know unless they are food professionals or have come across an article like this explains it.

Suya and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons(PAHs)

You know when they say cigarette kills? It is majorly due to the PAHs they contain. Many suya sellers make their suya by burning all sort of woods and charcoal to make their fire. Some even throw in such things as plastics to make their ember burn brighter in order to cook the suya meat. Many of these materials burning under the meat contain the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and do you know what these PAHs do in the body after enough consumption or exposure?

1.some PAH compounds are mutagens. Mutagen is a physical or chemical agent that changes the genetic material(DNA).

2. potential of contracting zoonotic diseases. A zoonotic disease is a disease that can be passed between animals and humans. Since suya meats are generally undercooked and in rare occasions carrying some blood on them. There is a chance that one could contact zoonotic diseases from suya. Take for example, during Ebola outbreak, we were warned to stay away from monkey and bat meats. There was also a stern warning to always cook our meats very well before we eat them. Cooking meat  very well cannot really be said of suya.

3.some PAHs are chemical carcinogens(cancer- causing compounds) while seven PAH compounds have also been classified as probable human carcinogens.

Source:central news.