The Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency (LASCOPA) has launched a fresh crackdown on unsafe pepper and food-grinding machines across the state, warning operators that rusty, corroded and poorly fabricated equipment could turn everyday food processing into a serious health hazard.
The agency specifically raised the alarm over the continued use of traditional cast-iron and substandard locally fabricated grinding machines, saying worn-out equipment could contaminate food with metals and expose consumers to avoidable health risks.
The General Manager/Chief Executive Officer of LASCOPA, Afolabi Solebo, Esq., issued the warning following concerns raised at the Lagos State Food Safety Conference and Exhibition 2026, themed “From Burden to Solutions – Safe Food Everywhere.”
Solebo said the widespread use of pepper and mill grinding machines by households, food vendors, restaurants, hospitals, boarding schools, caterers, traders and small-scale food businesses made strict compliance with food-safety standards non-negotiable.
He explained that rusty or corroded grinding components could introduce metal contaminants into food, while accumulated food residues, dirt and grease from previous grinding operations could create additional risks of contamination and cross-contamination.
LASCOPA Intensifies Enforcement
Solebo disclosed that LASCOPA’s Monitoring and Enforcement Officers would intensify compliance checks at food-processing and grinding points across Lagos, with regulatory sanctions awaiting operators found using unsafe or unsuitable equipment.
He urged operators to replace traditional cast-iron and poorly fabricated machines with stainless-steel and other appropriate food-grade equipment, stressing that food safety must not be sacrificed for convenience or cost.
According to him, operators must also clean grinding machines thoroughly after every use, remove food residues, maintain hygienic surroundings and regularly inspect and maintain grinding components.
The LASCOPA boss equally turned the spotlight on consumers, urging Lagosians to exercise caution when patronising grinding points.
He advised consumers to stay away from locations where grinding equipment is visibly rusty, deteriorated or unhygienic and to report practices capable of compromising food safety to the agency.
Politicians, Donors Put On Notice
Solebo also appealed to politicians and public-spirited individuals who distribute grinding machines as empowerment tools to stop equipping beneficiaries with substandard machines.
He urged them to prioritise stainless-steel and food-grade equipment, warning that empowerment initiatives should not inadvertently expose beneficiaries and the wider public to food-safety dangers.
He stressed that consumer protection remained a shared responsibility and assured Lagos residents that LASCOPA would sustain consumer enlightenment, market surveillance and enforcement operations across the state.
“Consumers should not remain silent when practices capable of compromising their safety are observed,” the agency said, urging members of the public to report unsafe or unhygienic food-processing practices for investigation and appropriate action.
The warning puts operators of pepper-grinding points across Lagos on notice as the state intensifies efforts to keep potentially contaminated food off the tables of millions of residents.
