Be careful what you eat, vendor raises the alarm over rotten pepper video
May 14, 2026 12:13 pm
Be careful what you eat, vendor raises the alarm over rotten pepper video
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A video circulating online has sparked outrage after two women were allegedly caught attempting to grind spoiled pepper infested with maggots at Mile 12 Market.
In the viral footage recorded at the popular Lagos market and shared by TikTok user flakesberry247 on Wednesday, the women were accused of bringing rotten pepper from home to be processed into paste for stews and soups.
The TikTok user, who identified herself as a food vendor, expressed concern over food safety practices and urged Nigerians to be more careful about what they consume outside their homes.
“We all really need to be careful about eating outside these days. I am a food vendor and I’ll never cook what I cannot eat.
“My foods are expensive to some to be a street food price, yes I know and God aligned me with customers that understand the reason for that. I choose carefully ingredients I use in cooking. I’m a health-conscious food vendor, I care about myself, kids, families, friends and customers’ health,” she wrote.
In the video, one of the women was seen amid a crowd after allegedly being apprehended, while the second suspect reportedly fled before she could be caught.
The footage also showed a bucket allegedly filled with pepper crawling with maggots, drawing angry reactions from viewers online.
Mile 12 Market remains one of Lagos’ largest food markets and serves as a major distribution hub for pepper, tomatoes and onions across Nigeria and parts of West Africa.
The incident has since triggered widespread reactions on social media, with many Nigerians expressing disgust and concern over hygiene and food safety standards in open markets.
Some users called on consumers to be more cautious when buying processed food items, while others urged health and environmental authorities to intensify sanitation monitoring and enforcement in public markets.
As of the time of filing this report, no official statement had been issued by relevant authorities regarding the incident or possible prosecution of those involved.
Watch the video below:
𝐁𝐞 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐄𝐚𝐭, 𝐕𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐫 𝐑𝐚𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐦 𝐎𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐑𝐨𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧 𝐏𝐞𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐫 𝐕𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐨
Credit: TikTok | flakesberry247
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Hannah Johnson is a journalist at Punch Newspapers with over three years of professional experience in reporting, storytelling, and digital content creation. She blends traditional reporting skills with a modern, digital-first approach to journalism, producing content tailored for both web and social platforms. Hannah is skilled at turning complex topics into clear, engaging, and relatable stories that resonate with a wide audience. Her work reflects hands-on newsroom experience, editorial judgment, and a strong commitment to accurate, audience-focused journalism.
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