Akwa Ibom govt warns residents to desist from eating 'Ponmo'

Akwa Ibom state government has warned
residents of the state to desist from eating
cow skin popularly known as Ponmo as
research has shown that the consumption of
the cow skin has led to the increase in cancer
and liver problems in the state.
At a press conference in Uyo yesterday April
26th, the state Commissioner for Agriculture
& Natural Resources, Mr. Godwin Afangideh,
represented by Director of Veterinary Services
in the state, Dr. Obot Obot said the high
quantity of salt used for the preservation of
the cow skin has been traced to have adverse
effect on the liver of the consumers and also
increases the risk of having cancer
"The state government, through the
veterinary services directorate of the
ministry, has embarked on a
sensitisation campaign in some
markets in the local government areas
to talk to the people about the danger
of consuming such meat. The
veterinary officer, who was in charge
of the sensitisation campaign, went to
different markets and talked to the
people on the imperatives of how to
watch out for toxic meat following
reports of its importation into the
country. Cow skin meat, which is five
times thicker than ordinary skin meat,
is injected with a toxic substance
called formalin used for its
preservation. This formalin in the long
run is capable of causing cancer and
liver problems due to high
concentration of salt used for their
preservation.”he said