Dangerous Spices: How a Melted Nylon Additive Keeps Plantain Chips Crunchy

In Nigeria, some plantain-chip vendors reportedly melt polyethylene bags into frying oil to cut costs and keep their products crunchy for more than two weeks. Halima Mohammed says rising ingredient prices make it hard to keep snacks affordable, while distributor Osaro Jimoh says street sellers want chips that stay crisp in the hot sun. The article warns that oil mixed with plastic can release carcinogenic compounds, heavy metals and microplastics, posing risks to liver and kidney health. Health agencies have cautioned against plastic additives, but enforcement is difficult across a vast, largely untraceable informal sector.