Fast food outlets fast taking over women’s kitchen

With this process, my husband will be able to microwave it and eat .But I believe that once in a while, you go out and taste something different.”

Taking a different view from Anita is Ododade Akinwale, a media practitioner in Abuja, who is of the opinion that eating outside their home is a matter of personal belief. In her words, “I believe that eating out or patronising fast food restaurants is a matter of choice. But a woman must know the basic rudiments of cooking and home making. But these days, most women, especially those who are career oriented, because of their work schedules, might patronize fast food outlets, but ultimately, I think it boils down to a matter of personal decision.”

But  Janet Wilbert, a self employed motivational speaker submits that,  “I do not eat out but sometimes we eat as a family and this is occasional not always.

Sometimes, as ladies we organise social gatherings just to know each other and in the process, we eat together. Sometimes, ladies are lonely so they go out and eat to see faces also, they go out may be when their husbands travel they decide to mix up with friends.”

Esther Nelson, a business development executive, said that “I do eat out although its depends because I wake very early this morning to go to a saloon so I could not cook it is regular for me because of the timing. I also consider hygiene when eating outside, I love food and I can go home and cook for them after eating outside that is when I get married.

Kolade Adebola, a civil servant in Abuja explained that “the world is changing.

These days, no more full time housewives. Women are not home makers anymore.

Most of them have career and when you are having break at the office, you do not expect her to drive from Wuse to Gwarimpa to have lunch.”

Omolola Ibrahim, a banker who works at the Wuse branch of Oceanic bank, told this medium that she prefers to patronize the fast food outlets because it saves time. According to her; “I patronize fast food eateries because, as a banker, I really don’t have time to cook, and all that. So, to save time and energy, I just dash to the nearest branch and help myself. It is basically because it is convenient.” When asked about the health implications, Cadmus said “I don’t eat out often, because I am watching my weight .So to make sure that I don’t get too fat, I try to eat only once daily.”

But while commenting on the implications of indulging in junk foods, Dr. Bello Moshood, an Abuja based private medical practitioner, explained that junk foods are the major cause of diabetes, hypertension and obesity-related diseases, because they contain excess sugar and fats which could impair the heart, increase people’s blood pressure and increase their risk of having diabetes.

He suggested the consumption of healthful foods, such as fruits, vegetables and peas, to reduce the risk of having these problems.

While sharing the same view, Dr. Ahmad Sabir said “most Nigerians don’t exercise and that is why you see that Nigerians are gradually getting obese. Even those who jog and do other forms of exercise still maintain a poor dietary pattern. They eat all kinds of junk foods and ice cream which do more harm to their bodies than good. Apart from the fact that Nigerians are fast getting addicted to junk foods which is one of the major causes of obesity in this part of the world, people tend to think that being fat is a symptom of good living or a status symbol which is wrong. The sooner Nigerians change this erroneous mentality, the better for our health as a nation. Being fat or overweight is never a symptom of good living or a status thing. It is as a result of poor dietary patterns and inadequate exercise.”

But while commenting on the hygienic state of the fast food outlets, an official of the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control, NAFDAC, explained that “we would partner with the Consumer Protection Council and other relevant agencies to intensify the monitoring of the activities of all fast food outlets nationwide to ensure that foods are prepared under hygienic conditions.”

He said NAFDAC resolved to carry out routine inspections of fast food outlets across the country, because of the realization that the outlets had come to occupy an important place in the country due to increased urbanization.

“We know that fast foods may be delicious and convenient, but they may also be a source of public health concern if the food is prepared under unhygienic or insanitary conditions.

“The storage condition of the ready-to-eat-food was inadequate. It was observed that the company was using a ceramic bath tub for mixing dough for their pastries.

“The company’s kitchen windows and doors were not netted to protect the premises from pests such as rats, cockroaches and flies. The general sanitation of the premises was appalling.

“Plates were stalked close to the open drains and exposed to microbial contamination which could lead to food poisoning. The very poor sanitary condition of the premises, obvious lapses in hygienic practices and food handling that would compromise health of consumers led to immediate closure of the outlet,” he said.