Professor Polycarp Nnacheta Okafor, from the Department of Biochemical Toxicology at the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike (MOUAU), has debunked claims that drinking garri causes eye problems and goiter.
This was disclosed in a blog post shared on the University’s main website.
According to Prof Polycarp, while it is true that cassava cyanide toxicity should be a major concern for populations using cassava as a staple food, the reports that the metabolism of cassava cyanide causes diseases such as goiter, diabetes as well as poor eyesight are based on circumstantial evidence.
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Prof Polycarp, who is also the Dean of the University’s College of Natural Sciences (COLNAS), also disclosed that when properly processed, cassava poses no health threat but is rather a source of highly nutritious food products with potential in the social and economic growth of the country.
he further recommended that instead of making a mockery of cassava, research in the food should be prioritized to harness its potential to drive economic growth.
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