Nigerian health influencer and medical doctor, Chinonso Egemba, popularly known as Aproko Doctor, has issued a stark warning about a hidden danger in one of Nigeria’s most consumed staples, Garri. In a video posted Monday, he revealed that if not properly processed, Garri could lead to serious health risks, including irreversible vision loss.
Dr Egemba explained that cassava, the base crop for Garri contains naturally occurring compounds called cyanogenic glycosides, particularly linamarin and lotaustralin. These compounds, when not sufficiently broken down during processing, can convert into hydrogen cyanide, a toxic substance capable of damaging the optic nerve and retina.
“There is even research that showed that people who drink Garri more have less visual acuity than people who don’t,” he said, referencing findings that link regular consumption of poorly fermented cassava products to declining eye health.
While Garri is generally considered safe, Egemba stressed that safety depends entirely on the thoroughness of the fermentation and drying process. “If your Garri is properly processed the fermenting, the drying then the dangerous hydrogen cyanide is reduced to a level that is not harmful,” he clarified.
He warned that improperly dried or fermented Garri, especially when still moist or not sour enough, may still contain unsafe levels of hydrogen cyanide. “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.
To stay safe, the doctor urged Nigerians to buy only well-packaged, sealed, and NAFDAC-approved Garri products. He also called on the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control to ramp up inspections in local markets, where much of the Garri sold may not meet basic safety standards.
“The most important question you should be asking when it comes to your Garri is: Who processed it? Was it processed properly?” he asked.
Egemba’s comments have sparked conversation online, with many Nigerians rethinking the sources of their staple foods. The video comes at a time when food safety is under renewed scrutiny across the country.
Garri remains a dietary mainstay across Nigerian homes, but as Egemba’s warning underscores, how it is made could mean the difference between health and harm.
