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Claim: A Viral WhatsApp voice note featuring Dr. Frank Obi, who claimed to be from the Ministry of Health, alleged that the ministry, in collaboration with state governments, will begin inspecting schools to enforce a ban on certain foods.
Verdict: False. DUBAWA found several of the claims in the audio to be false or misleading.
Full Text
An audio featuring a male voice claiming to be “Dr. Frank Obi” from the Federal Ministry of Health went viral on WhatsApp. The speaker alleged, among other things, that Nigeria has become the global leader in cancer cases, and that many commonly consumed packaged foods, especially those given to children, are highly carcinogenic and are now banned.
He also claims that the government will begin visiting schools to enforce food bans, citing an alleged incident involving the “Tummy Tummy” noodle company in Anambra State.
Due to the health implications of these claims and their potential to mislead the public and cause panic, DUBAWA decided to fact-check them.
Verification
Claim 1: Nigeria is now number one globally in cancer rates.
Verdict: False
In the viral audio recording, the doctor, Frank, alleged that Nigeria now ranks first globally in terms of cancer prevalence.
He said, “On Wednesday, we received a report indicating that Nigeria has become number one in the world for the highest cancer rates. After investigations and several analyses, we discovered that some packaged foods, particularly those commonly given to children, are highly carcinogenic and should be banned by all possible means.”
DUBAWA found no credible data indicating that Nigeria ranks first globally in cancer incidence. According to international statistics, countries like Norway have the highest projected cancer rates in 2025, with an estimated age-standardised rate of 829 per 100,000 men and 647 per 100,000 women.
While Nigeria is battling rising cancer cases and has high mortality rates, particularly for breast and prostate cancer, it is not ranked number one globally.
As of July 2025, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Pate, during the commissioning of a newly constructed Oncology Centre at the Federal Teaching Hospital (FTH), Katsina, stated that Nigeria records an estimated 127,000 cancer cases annually, resulting in approximately 80,000 deaths.
He also claimed that certain packaged foods given to children are highly carcinogenic and have now been banned. While he did not specify the packaged foods prohibited in Nigeria, there is no record of NAFDAC or the Nigerian government’s official ban on any class of packaged foods due to cancer risks.
No credible news or government source has verified such a ban.
Claim 2: Tummy Tummy noodle factory in Anambra State sealed over cancer-causing ingredients.
Verdict: False
Frank Obi also claimed that the Tummy Tummy noodles factory in Anambra State has been sealed. According to him,
“…the Indomie company called Tummy Tummy in Anambra state a couple of weeks ago. The company has now been sealed, and I’m sure one of you has heard it. Somebody wrote a petition, and we went there for inspection. We saw what all these wicked people are doing after producing noodles if they want to package the spices.”
On July 23, 2025, NAFDAC clarified via its official X handle that the Tummy Tummy factory was not sealed. Instead, the agency said it conducted an unscheduled inspection, collecting and testing samples of four noodle variants. According to the agency, the samples were evaluated at the NAFDAC Laboratory in Agulu and were found satisfactory with no violations. The statement reads in part, “Contrary to the claims made in the recording, the Tummy Tummy noodles facility in Anambra State was not sealed,” NAFDAC stated.
Claim 3: Children consuming noodles and spices suffer from immune damage, causing Drug-Resistant Malaria (DRM).
Verdict: False
The doctor who claimed to be from the Ministry of Health alleged that children consuming noodles and spices suffer from immune damage, causing Drug-Resistant Malaria (DRM).
In his words,
“…these are the things you eat and give children daily at the age of 1-5 years, the immune system of these children consuming these foods will no longer function, this is why we have D.R.M today, and it means Drug Resistance Malaria. If you like, you can consume ten thousand naira worth of drugs today for malaria, I bet in a couple of days the malaria will come again because the immune system can no longer function optimally.”
Drug-resistant malaria is caused by mutations in malaria parasites, typically resulting from misuse or overuse of antimalarial drugs. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), there is no link between the consumption of noodles or spices and this condition. While a poor diet may affect immune health, it does not cause DRM.
According to the World Health Organisation, several factors contribute to malaria drug resistance. These include genetic mutations in the malaria parasite, the use of substandard or counterfeit medications, incomplete treatment courses, reliance on monotherapies instead of combination therapies, and poor adherence to recommended treatment guidelines.
In July 2023, DUBAWA conducted a fact-check on the nutritional value of noodles. The report revealed that although noodles are affordable and convenient, they can pose health risks. It also noted that while noodles may lack essential nutrients, they contain some vitamins.
A registered dietitian, Shoretire Michael, said, “Infants and growing children need balanced meals, not meals that are predominantly carbohydrates. Indomie is fine for adults if prepared well, but not as a staple for young children.”
Claim 4: Tin tomatoes and Maggi seasoning cubes are banned in Nigeria and will be extinct in three months
Verdict: False
The claimant also said, “The so-called tin tomatoes, I’m sure some of you must have heard the ban, in three months now you won’t see anything called tin tomatoes in Nigeria any longer, even Maggi Star…”
DUBAWA conducted a keyword search on the internet to find any news reports on the ban on tin tomatoes in Nigeria. We found no news report or evidence to support this claim.
However, in a statement on July 23, 2025, NAFDAC confirmed that tinned tomatoes and Maggi seasoning cubes are not banned. These products remain approved for public consumption.
The statement reads in part, “NAFDAC affirms that there is no ban on tinned tomatoes or Maggi seasoning cubes in Nigeria,” the agency clarified.
Dietitian Shoretire said, “From what I’ve gathered, there is no credible evidence suggesting that tinned tomatoes are harmful, unless the concern is about the container, which modern food safety standards already address.”
Speaking on their link to cancer, he said, “I once gave a presentation on Maggi and cancer, and there’s no scientific evidence linking the two. The only concern is the high sodium content in some brands. People with high blood pressure should moderate their intake”.
He emphasised that Maggi or any seasoning product shouldn’t be demonised in isolation. “Not all Maggi contains the same amount of sodium. Some brands claim to use natural spices. The focus should be on moderation and understanding your health condition.”
Shoretire encouraged using natural spices like ginger, turmeric, and garlic as healthy alternatives to synthetic seasonings.
Claim 5: Formalin used in preserving fish is harmful and linked to cancer.
Verdict: Partly True
In 2020, a study in Calabar and another in Enugu revealed that some iced fish sold in Nigeria are sometimes preserved with formalin. However, in 2021, the Director-General of NAFDAC, Mojisola Adeyeye, issued a warning against the use of harmful substances such as Sniper and formalin in the processing and preservation of food.
Formaldehyde has been classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) as a Group 1 carcinogen, meaning it is known to cause cancer in humans. Formalin is linked to a range of health issues, including kidney damage, respiratory problems, and cancers such as leukaemia and nasopharyngeal cancer. Formalin is a toxic substance not approved for food preservation, as prolonged ingestion can lead to genetic mutations and tumour growth.
Addressing concerns about using formalin, a chemical typically used to preserve corpses, to preserve frozen fish, Dietitian Shoretire acknowledged that such cases “may exist in isolated incidents,” especially in areas with erratic power supply. “People who don’t have access to constant electricity may be tempted to use harmful preservatives just to avoid spoilage and financial loss. But while the claim cannot be dismissed outright, they shouldn’t be generalised,” he warned.
Claim 6: Ripe natural tomatoes cure “prophylaxis.”
Verdict: False
The doctor in the viral audio also claimed that ripe natural tomatoes cure prophylaxis. He said, “When I was at the UNTH Enugu, if you have prophylaxis and you come to the hospital. We don’t recommend drugs, we ask you to get ripe natural tomatoes, and within 24 hours, you will see the prophylaxis disappear.”
DUBAWA’s findings reveal that Prophylaxis means preventing a disease or a health problem before it occurs. It involves actions, treatments, or interventions to stop illness or infection in advance rather than waiting to treat it afterwards. According to the Cleveland Clinic, “prophylaxis” refers to preventive treatment, not a disease. Therefore, the claim that ripe tomatoes cure prophylaxis is scientifically incorrect and misleading.
Shoretire added, “Tomatoes are rich in lycopene, an antioxidant that helps protect against certain cancers.”
