Committee seizes 300 bags of adulterated Zobo

The Jigawa Consumer Protection Committee, has confiscated 300 bags of adulterated Zobo leaves from a trader in Babura Local Government Area of the state.

Its Chairman, Alhaji Farouk Abdallah, made the disclosure on Wednesday.

He said that the seizure followed a raid by the committee at ‘Yarkirya market in Babura town on Tuesday.

The chairman alleged that the owner had soaked the commodity in water in order to increase its weight, with the aim of defrauding customers.

“The owner poured water on the Zobo in order to add to its weight, as you know, this commodity is measured by kilos, so he added the water in order to increase its weight,” Abdallah said.

The chairman, however, said that the zobo leaves would be returned to the owner after it was certified to be completely dry by the committee.

According to him, the committee has warned traders in the market and others across the state not to engage in such unwholesome practice.

He stressed that anyone found involved in the unwholesome practice of defrauding consumers would be prosecuted.

“The committee has handed over the seized items to the Sarkin Kasuwa [Head of the Market] in the area, and asked him to dry it for three days before he gives it back to its owner.

“And we warned the owner that whenever we get him in similar cheating, we will take him to court to reap what he sow; other traders in the state should also take note,” he added.

The chairman said the committee would continue to monitor markets to protect consumers from adulterated foods, drugs and medication, as well as from traders bent on cheating customers.

NAN reports that the Zobo leaves is used to produce juice, consumed mostly by locals.