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PONMO (COW SKIN) - What You Need To Know. by Jmaya(m): 2:48am On Oct 09, 2015 |
I know most of you might be wondering,
" Ponmo ?' , 'Why Ponmo ?". Anyways the ongoing
debate has made me weigh in on this delicious
topic. There has been a threat of a ban hanging
around the consumption of ponmo which has
sparked Nigerians moving into a hot debate for or
against it. Well, this post is aimed at bringing you
to a decision about your view on Ponmo
consumption .
WHAT EXACTLY IS PONMO ?
Cow hide/skin, popularly known as ponmo , is
basically cow skin that has been processed to
look similar to beef. There are two (known)
varieties of ponmo. This classification is based on
their mode of preparation and colour. One is
usually white/cream/off-white in colour, while the
other is brown.
In the white/cream variety, the hide is removed
from the skin by soaking in boiling water, and
then using blade to shave off the hair; while in
the brown variety, the hide and skin are subjected
to a high level of heat, so as to burn out the hide
(fur). After this process, the skin is then washed
several times and then boiled for hours so as to
ensure that it is softened.
The skin is then sold in our markets as ponmo –
a great delicacy and an important ingredient in
the preparation of several stews in various
cultures in Nigeria.
Most Nigerians love ponmo so much that some
believe a good day meal is incomplete without it.
Ponmo is a regular sight at parties and several
public outings, served in different formats.
THE ARGUMENT
The Minister of Agriculture and Rural
Development, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina, recently at
the third joint anniversary of the Animal Science
Association of Nigeria and the Nigeria Institute of
Animal Science, held at the University of Ibadan
with the theme: “Value addition in the Nigerian
livestock industry: A strategy for economic growth
and stakeholder’s empowerment.” said: "I am
confident that the satisfactory production levels
achieved in the poultry and swine segments will
soon stretch to reach other commodities such as
beef, dairy, micro livestock and animal by-
products such as leather, bones, hides and
skins."
He further said that “I also commend NIAS for its
advocacy and enlightenment programme on radio
and television that promote value addition in
livestock, as against sale and consumption of
primary products alone, particularly with the issue
of curtailing the widespread consumption of of
hides and skins as ponmo , which ought to be
tanned into leather for a very high dollar return to
the farmer and tanneries. I expect that competent
regulations acceptable by all stakeholders will
develop so as to give credibility that our set
standards for food safety are being implemented
to boost value addition.”
With that statement, it can be expected that very
soon ponmo would be banned from our markets,
pots and even our plates.
NUTRITIONAL BENEFIT OF PONMO
Despite the taste appeal ponmo delivers to your
taste buds, it would be quite shocking for some of
you to know that ponmo contains little next to
nothing in terms of nutritional value.
The nutritional analysis of a 40 gram piece of
ponmo is:
Calories (150g); Total fat (4g); Saturated fat (1g);
Poly saturated fat (0g); Mono saturated fat (0g);
Trans fat (0g); Cholesterol (0g); Sodium (0mg);
Potassium (0mg); Total carbohydrate (0g);
Dietary fibre (0g); Sugars (0 per cent); Proteins (0
per cent); Vitamin A (0 per cent); Vitamin C (0 per
cent); Calcium (0 per cent); Iron (0 per cent).
From the above, you need no telling that the
consumption of ponmo gives nothing to your
body. So, why are we so addicted to this piece of
leather.
POSSIBLE DANGER TO HEALTH
According to a post on Punch, the Director-
General of the Nigerian Institute of Leather
Science and Technology, Zaria, Kaduna State, Dr.
Isuwa Adamu, on Tuesday warned against the
consumption of animal hides and skin, known
locally as ponmo . He said: "it is not advisable for
you to consume ponmo in the sense that some of
the animals killed and used for ponmo actually
have skin diseases. Some of these skin diseases
are such that boiling them ordinarily may not kill
the bacteria,’’.
He added that some of the animals killed had
been ill and undergoing injections but the rearers
went ahead to kill them, leaving the buyers
vulnerable to chemicals in the animal skin.
The DG also added, “Some of the animals
because of the ailments that they have gone
through are sometimes treated by way of
injection with chemicals. People don’t allow these
chemicals to complete its cycle and be removed
from the body; they sometimes go ahead to kill
these animals.
“So, if you consume the ponmo , the tendency is
that you are consuming the chemicals directly
because the skin part of the animal retains most
of the harmful substances.
In addition to this, during the production process
of ponmo , the hides and skin are usually
subjected to naked flames so as to enable the
hides to burn off the skin. During the burning
process, a lot of different unhygienic substances
such as trash, wood, charcoal, rubber tires and so
on, are thrown into the furnace to sustain the
blazing heat.
As the furnace burns, the combusting wood, gas,
or charcoal emits chemicals known as polycyclic
aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which finds its
way into the smoked food and contaminates it.
Exposure to PAHs is known to cause skin, liver,
stomach and several other types of cancers in
laboratory animals. In addition to this,
epidemiological studies have found a positive
statistical correlation between intestinal tract
cancer and frequent intake of smoked food. These
studies have also linked occupational exposure to
PAHs to cancer in humans.
Sad right?, but who cares. No one has ever died
from ponmo consumption, no be so. But take a
look at the ponmo below, tasty right? Do you
know it is same as just a cooked italian leather
bag/shoe? Your favorite brands Lois Vutton et al
all use ponmo in manufacturing their products.
You want your own locally made standard leather
accessories? STOP YOUR PONMO CONSUMPTION
TODAY.
Do you have a contrary opinion on pomo
consumption? Hit the comments section and lets
hear your view. #BringBackOurPonmo or
#GoodbyeDearPonmo ? [Some facts gathered from Punch Newspapers] |
Re: PONMO (COW SKIN) - What You Need To Know. by Nobody: 3:34am On Oct 09, 2015 |
Wow. |
Re: PONMO (COW SKIN) - What You Need To Know. by madcheddartips(m): 4:55am On Oct 09, 2015 |
My grandma is 96yrs. She has eaten ponmo all her life. She still farms and pounds yam. All these people saying this and that about our dearly beloved ponmo are clueless. They will eat it and come betray ponmo in a lecture. In fact I am eating ponmo now self. 5 Likes |
Re: PONMO (COW SKIN) - What You Need To Know. by 3Dee(m): 5:38am On Oct 09, 2015 |
What can stop me from the love of ponmo? Nothing, absolutely nothing. Not even this epistle |
Re: PONMO (COW SKIN) - What You Need To Know. by keishablack(f): 8:11pm On Oct 13, 2015 |
What did ponmo ever do to anyone. |
Re: PONMO (COW SKIN) - What You Need To Know. by Menace2Society(m): 6:42am On Oct 15, 2015 |
Re: PONMO (COW SKIN) - What You Need To Know. by Crieff(m): 6:22pm On Oct 15, 2015 |
All those saying ponmo os nutritionless...this is for you? You are starving...almost dead...aand you are served with a plate, no, a bowlful of juicy, full, curvy, succulent, wet, tasty-fried stew covered...will it satiate your hunger or not? I'm sure if oyinbo do research and scientific studies into the nutrients in ponmo, they will find something...only in naija. |
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