The Director General of the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Professor Moji Adeyeye has said the agency has put in place stringent regulatory processes to ensure the safety of food consumed in Nigeria.
The NAFDAC DG stated this during an event in Bauchi to commemorate the 2024 World Food Safety Day.
The event was organized by Catalyzing Strengthened Action for Healthy Diets and Resilience (CASCADE) Nigeria in collaboration with the Bauchi State Committee on Food and Nutrition.
The NAFDAC DG said that as an agency of the Federal government, it ensures that all food products and drugs are fit for human consumption.
She said that NAFDAC has sustained the ban on dichlorvos ( snipper) 100ml which is being used for food preservation because of its effect on humans.
The DG said that this year’s theme “Prepare for the unexpected” is apt as it will help spread awareness on hunger, undernourished population and starvation problems around the world.
Also speaking on Food Safety, the Bauchi State Coordinator of NAFDAC, Dr Paul Kamai said that ensuring food safety is a public health priority and an easy step to achieving food security.
“Effective food safety and management systems are key not only to safeguarding the well-being of the people but also fostering economic development.”
Kamai who stressed that implementing a food safety policy is a shared responsibility noted that four million people die annually around the world due to poisoning and eating contaminated food.
The Coordinator identified food contaminants to include abuse of agrochemicals, pesticide residues, veterinary drug residues, illegal use of banned agrochemicals and microbial contaminants.
To address the issue, he said that NAFDAC conducts routine inspections of food products and has sustained awareness of some of its regulatory measures.
On his part, the Bauchi State Chairman of, the Committee on Food and Nutrition, Jibrin Yusuf, said that the state has continued to witness an increase in cases of malnutrition among children under five years.
The event, he therefore said provides an avenue to discuss not just food safety but its availability as well.
He added that the Committee is in place to push for adequate budgetary allocation to nutrition activities in line ministries.
Yusuf while commending CASCADE for observing the day urged stakeholders to create awareness about food storage and handling.
Similarly, the Private Sector Support Officer at CASCADE, Sesi Oliyide said the organization has built the capacity of food vendors under the homegrown school feeding program on food storage, preparation and packaging to avoid contamination.
The Focal person, Alive&Thrive FHI 360 Bauchi, Asimobi Chidiebere said the organization works to provide multiple micronutrient power to children under five to address the problem of malnutrition.
He called for collaborative action in promoting nutrition and food safety.
World Food Safety Day is commemorated on June 7 to increase awareness of the importance of food safety, encourage people to take preventative measures to ensure their food is safe and to also promote global action to improve food safety systems.
By Lizzy Carr
