AdminBy Chigozie Nwabunwanne
“Garri no get advert but e dey sell pass everything.” As humorous as this statement is, garri, a popular Nigerian staple food made from cassava, plays a significant role in the lives of many Nigerians. To some, garri is just eba- a stiff dough produced by soaking garri in hot water and kneading it with a wooden ladle until it becomes a smooth staple. It is served as part of a meal in many Nigerian cuisines.
Some Nigerians, especially the young, nicknamed garri local ‘Groceries’, as they soak it with cold water, add beverages like milk, sugar, groundnut, etc., and drink.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelIt’s popularly known as the last resort or last card to play when students go broke or run out of edible provisions. On social media, garri has earned a funny reputation as ‘the saviour of broke people’. Some call it the food of all foods. In a comic skit, it is described as ‘Saving the lives of Nigerian Students since 1804’.
With the level of consumption of garri, traders who sell it are no doubt, making good sales, in as much as they are known for selling good quality one.
A trader in Nsukka, Mrs. Nnenna Ozioko, explained how her business thrives in the market. According to her “In Nsukka, garri sells. I think everywhere. People eat garri a lot and I sell up to 7 paints every day.”
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“It’s everywhere! People say garri kills the eyes but still buy it. I don’t know if they drink it or use it to make soup but I always don’t want people I know to drink garri.” Another trader, Mrs Helen Asogwa said.
Deborah Awu, a student of English Education, the University of Nigeria said she feels pain in her eyes after drinking garri and sometimes, her eyes produce water/tears involuntarily.
According to another student, Valerian Ejem; “Whenever I finish drinking garri and come to watch TV at some point I will find out that my eyes are in a straining position.”
“It only happens minutes after drinking garri,” he continued.
In some narratives over time, garri has been portrayed as the cause of blindness. According to some stories, garri is said to affect human sight after drinking it continuously for a while and could lead to total blindness. Considering the growing cases of eye-related problems, one would find this information disturbing as many Nigerians consume garri on a daily basis.
However, health experts say this is not usually the case. An ophthalmologist, Dr. Ann Ihedirionye of the Chrome Vision Eye Clinic, said garri doesn’t cause eye problems or vision issues when prepared properly.
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“Cassava contains naturally occurring cyanogenic compounds, which can release cyanide if not processed properly. Chronic exposure to improperly processed cassava could lead to an eye disease called optic neuropathy, which can affect vision. Proper soaking, fermenting, and drying of cassava during garri production typically removes these harmful compounds,” she said.
“If garri forms a significant portion of your diet without being balanced with soup rich in protein, vitamins, and minerals, it could contribute to deficiencies in essential nutrients like vitamin A. Vitamin A deficiency is a known cause of vision problems, including night blindness and, in severe cases, permanent blindness,” she explained.
According to Dr. Osakwe, the cyanide in the soaked garri is the cause of visual challenges.
“The cyanide is toxic, so if the garri is not properly prepared, the cyanogen in cassava can lead to the formation of hydrocyanic acid in the guts which is toxic to the body.
Garri should be allowed to properly ferment to remove the cyanide before consumption,” he stated.
According to insights from health experts, it is clear that garri can only be toxic to human health when poorly prepared.
