The consumption of ‘deggeh’ (groundnut paste) and other groundnut related food products made from “bad groundnuts” can accelerate liver damage and massively increase the risks of developing liver cancer, a Gambian medical doctor revealed.

In a Facebook post, Dr Rama Njie of the Medical Research Council said bad nuts which are infected by the Aspergillus fungus contain AFLATOXIN that can cause liver damage, particularly for those people already infected with Hepatitis B virus.

The doctor revealed that all the good groundnuts produced in The Gambia are exported abroad and the ones that failed aflatoxin tests are retained for local consumption.

“This has to STOP if we are to make an impact on the burden of liver disease, which is considerable. As a hepatologist on the ground in The Gambia, I see between 2-3 new liver cancer diagnosis every week, often at an advanced stage,” she said.

Dr Njie advised: “It's better, if you are going to make domoda, to NEVER buy deggeh from the markets. Far better to buy your own nuts, pick out the bad ones and make your own paste.”

According to her, one of her colleagues Dr Lamin Senghore from Senegal, working with NARI, tested a selection of peanut butter samples bought from various markets in the Kombos, and the aflatoxin levels were through the roof.

“The women went daily to the Gambia Groundnut Corporation near Denton Bridge to pick the nuts that had been discarded due to high aflatoxin contamination to bulk up their deggeh. The effect on the health of children is devastating: immune suppression, poor growth and stunting, etc. etc. Not to mention the effects on the liver in adults.”

Dr Njie recommended that massive public education needs to happen to stop the selling of deggeh made from bad groundnuts.