A popular Nigerian medical doctor and health influencer, Chinonso Egemba—also known as Aproko Doctor—has warned that eating poorly processed Garri could cause blindness. He said this is because Garri is made from cassava, which contains harmful substances.
In a video shared on Monday, Dr. Egemba explained that cassava has chemicals called cyanogenic glycosides, such as linamarin and lotaustralin.
When cassava is not properly processed, these chemicals can turn into hydrogen cyanide—a poisonous substance that can harm the body if taken in large amounts.
“This hydrogen cyanide can damage tissues in the body. One area it can affect is the eyes, especially the optic nerve and the retina,” he said.
He mentioned a study that found people who drink Garri more often tend to have poorer eyesight compared to those who don’t.
However, Dr. Egemba made it clear that Garri is safe if it is well processed.
He explained that proper processing—like fermenting and drying—helps remove most of the dangerous hydrogen cyanide. So, Garri that is processed the right way will not cause blindness.
He advised people to buy Garri that is dry, crispy, and has a sour taste. These are signs that it has been well fermented and dried. Garri that still has moisture might not be safe.
He also recommended buying Garri that is sealed and approved by NAFDAC, Nigeria’s food and drug safety agency.
“The key question to ask is: Who processed this Garri, and was it done properly?” Dr. Egemba said. He also urged NAFDAC to increase their checks on Garri sold in local markets.
