Health Risk Alert
The Director General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Prof Moji Adeyeye, has issued a stern warning to Nigerians against prolonged refrigeration of cooked food for more than three days. She emphasized that prolonged storage of cooked food increases the risk of contamination by disease-causing pathogens, which can lead to severe foodborne illnesses and even death.
World Food Safety Day
Prof Adeyeye’s warning aligns with the 2024 World Food Safety Day celebration, themed ‘Food Safety: Prepare for the Unexpected’. Consequently, in a statement signed by the agency’s Resident Media Consultant, Sayo Akintola, Adeyeye emphasized the crucial role of maintaining a food safety culture within the food supply process. This approach, therefore, is essential to mitigate risks and protect public health.
Global Awareness Campaign
World Food Safety Day, celebrated annually on June 7, was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2018 to raise global awareness about the importance of food safety. Transitioning to the current context, Adeyeye reiterated that maintaining food safety is crucial not only for public health but also for economic development and food security. Furthermore, she urged all stakeholders to actively participate in promoting food safety practices.
Collective Responsibility
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 600 million people worldwide fall ill each year from consuming contaminated food, resulting in 420,000 fatalities. Moreover, unsafe food leads to a loss of 33 million healthy life years and incurs $110 billion annually in productivity and medical expenses, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Emphasising the gravity of the situation, Adeyeye highlighted that food safety is a shared responsibility, necessitating cooperation from producers to consumers.
Director of Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, Mrs Eva Edwards, echoed these concerns, noting that foodborne diseases, while preventable, are costly. She emphasized the need for proper food handling, hygiene, and sanitation practices to prevent such diseases. Edwards called for a multisectoral approach, involving health, agriculture, and environmental sectors, to ensure a robust food safety emergency response.
Call to Action
Prof Adeyeye concluded by urging Nigerians to adhere to food safety guidelines and practices, emphasizing that everyone must play their part in ensuring a safer food supply. “Working together, we can strengthen our food safety system and be prepared for unexpected challenges,” she said.
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