‘Shawa fish is one of the most toxic fishes we eat,’ Tjay warns

Tjay, a former Big Brother Naija housemate and medical doctor, warned Nigerians about possible health risks from eating dried shawa fish. In a video shared online, he claimed that the whitish substance on the fish could be mould and that the fish may also contain carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and heavy metals. He advised soaking it for at least an hour before removing the head and skin, claiming that about 50 per cent of the toxins are concentrated in the head. He also recommended choosing smaller shawa fish, which he said are less toxic.