That shawarma you enjoy after work, during a night out, or on your way home may be more than just a quick and tasty meal. Consuming shawarma all the time may come with some health problems, especially when it has a lot of processed meat, salt, creamy sauces, and plenty of calories. The concerns are not about eating shawarma once in a while. Experts are more concerned about people who eat it regularly, as some of the ingredients used in shawarma have been linked to health problems. A recent PUNCH Healthwise investigation looked at how popular shawarma has become among Nigerians and also examined how some vendors handle the ingredients used to prepare it. The findings brought attention to two major issues: the risk of getting sick from poorly handled food and the possible health effects of regularly eating meals that contain a lot of processed meat, salt, sugar, and unhealthy fats. One of the major health concerns surrounding some types of shawarma is the processed meat that is often added to the wrap. Sausages are commonly used in Nigerian shawarma, but processed meat has been classified by the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer as carcinogenic to humans.
The agency based the classification on research linking processed meat to colorectal cancer. It describes processed meat as meat that has been treated in different ways, including salting, curing, fermenting, or smoking, often to make it last longer or give it more flavor. This does not mean that eating a sausage-filled shawarma occasionally will cause cancer. The concern is more about regular consumption over a long period. When processed meat becomes a frequent part of a person’s diet, the associated health risks become more relevant. It is important to note that shawarma itself is not the same thing as processed meat, as processed meat is only one of the ingredients that may be added to it. Shawarma itself has not been classified as a carcinogen. The concern is with ingredients such as processed meat and the overall quality of the diet.
The amount of salt and other high-calorie ingredients used in some shawarma meals is another issue experts have highlighted. A typical shawarma may contain processed meat, heavily seasoned chicken, sauces, and other ingredients that can push up the amount of sodium and calories in the meal. Eating too much salt can also lead to high blood pressure. High blood pressure, in turn, is one of the important risk factors for chronic kidney disease. The bigger concern is what happens when high-salt, high-calorie meals become a regular habit. Things that people eat today will tell on their health later. Eating foods with too much salt and fat regularly can make a person more likely to develop high blood pressure, gain too much weight, or have diabetes, and these problems can affect the kidneys over time.
With kidney problems affecting many people in Nigeria, health experts say what people eat regularly should not be overlooked
For many shawarma lovers, the sauce is an important part of the meal. Mayonnaise and other creamy sauces can make the wrap more enjoyable, but they can also add considerable amounts of fat and calories.
According to the PUNCH Healthwise investigation, some vendors use several tablespoons of mayonnaise-based or creamy sauces in a single shawarma. The concern, however, is not simply that mayonnaise is unhealthy. The quantity used, as well as how the sauce is stored and handled, also matters. Creamy sauces that are left in unsuitable conditions, especially in hot weather, can provide an environment where harmful microorganisms can multiply. This means that food safety is just as important as the nutritional content of the meal. Cancer and kidney problems may take years to develop, but eating food that is not properly handled can make someone sick much sooner.
During its investigation, PUNCH Healthwise visited shawarma vendors around parts of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, including areas around Ascon and Ibafo. Some of the vendors visited during the investigation had chicken and sauces left in the open, while the vegetables were also not properly covered.
It was also noted that other practices could put the hygiene of the food in question. At one point, a vendor was seen using the same hand to serve food and collect money from customers. Some of the ingredients were also left where dust, flies, and other dirt could get to them.
These things may not look like a big deal, but they can cause problems when people eat the food.
If the food is contaminated, it can cause illnesses and leave a person with symptoms such as diarrhea, vomiting, stomach pain, and weakness. The World Health Organization estimates that contaminated food causes about 600 million illnesses and 420,000 deaths around the world every year.
Some consumers say they became sick after eating shawarma. The investigation also spoke to Nigerians who said they had fallen ill after eating shawarma.
Some of them said they had diarrhea, were vomiting, had stomach pain, and felt weak.
At least one person reportedly became so ill that she needed hospital treatment. However, such experiences on their own cannot establish that stomach problems can happen for many reasons, and it is not always easy to know what caused them. It could be from another food, an infection, or a health problem the person already had. However, these stories show why it is important to make sure food is properly prepared and kept well, especially when buying food that is already cooked. But it is not only people’s experiences that have raised concerns about the safety of the food. The PUNCH Healthwise report also referred to a peer-reviewed study that examined 199 ready-to-eat food samples in Lagos, including 35 shawarma samples purchased from vendors in Agege, Iyana-Ipaja, and Ikorodu. The researchers found bacteria in some of the samples, including Klebsiella, Proteus, and Bacillus. The findings do not mean that every shawarma sold in Lagos is contaminated or unsafe. Instead, the findings show why proper cooking, storage, and hygiene are important when preparing food for people to eat. For ready-to-eat meals, poor handling at any stage can create an opportunity for contamination.
Does this mean you should stop eating shawarma? Not necessarily.
The message from the health concerns is not that Nigerians must completely give up shawarma. What is important is how often it is eaten and what is used, and how the food was prepared. There is a clear difference between someone who occasionally buys a shawarma and someone who eats one several times a week, particularly when the meal regularly contains processed meat and heavy sauces. If you like shawarma, you do not have to stop eating it completely. Just try not to eat it too often and make a few healthier choices when you can. For example, you can ask for less mayonnaise or sauce, go for chicken instead of sausages, and add more vegetables to the shawarma. Where possible, it is also worth paying attention to the conditions in which the food is prepared. If chicken, vegetables, or sauces are left openly exposed to flies and dust, if food is being handled with visibly unclean hands, or if creamy sauces appear to have been sitting out for long periods without proper refrigeration, it may be better to choose another vendor.
Image Credit: Bella Naija
The WHO has also urged people to ensure that food is properly prepared, stored, and handled to stop people from getting ill. The real issue is how often you eat it. Shawarma may be convenient, filling, and enjoyable, and there is no need to treat an occasional meal as a health disaster. There is another problem that may need urgent attention: the way some vendors handle and store meat, vegetables, and sauces used to prepare the meal. It is not just about the taste or your cravings, and the next time you think of buying shawarma, always remember to consider the content. Ask yourself how often you eat it, what is actually inside the wrap, and whether you trust the conditions in which it was prepared. Your favorite shawarma may not necessarily be something you need to completely avoid. But the ingredients, portion, frequency, and hygiene behind it can all make a difference to your health.
