The Director General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, has urged all stakeholders in Nigeria’s food supply chain to adopt a culture of food safety to mitigate the risks and hazards that could compromise food safety.
During the 2024 World Food Safety Day, themed ‘Food Safety: Prepare for the Unexpected,’ Prof. Adeyeye highlighted the importance of proactive measures in ensuring food safety. She stated, “Food safety is not only important for public health but a sine-qua-non for economic development and food security.”
World Food Safety Day was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2018, following a proposal from the Codex Alimentarius Commission, to raise awareness about food safety and encourage cross-sector collaboration.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), one in ten people worldwide fall ill each year from consuming contaminated food, resulting in 420,000 deaths. This issue significantly impacts children under five and other vulnerable groups, particularly in poorer regions. Developing countries lose approximately $110 billion annually on medical expenses due to unsafe food.
A statement by Sayo Akintola, Resident Media Consultant, reiterated that everyone, from farmers to consumers, must ensure that food remains safe from the farm to the table. Prof. Adeyeye stressed that the 2024 theme from WHO and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) challenges stakeholders to be ready for unforeseen threats to food safety in an increasingly interconnected global food supply chain.
Prof. Adeyeye emphasized that food safety is a shared responsibility. The campaign aims to enhance global food safety awareness by promoting prevention, detection, and management of foodborne risks, underscoring the necessity of preparation for food safety incidents.
Food safety incidents, such as those caused by accidents, inadequate controls, food fraud, or natural events, pose health risks. Addressing these incidents requires a concerted effort from policymakers, food safety authorities, farmers, and food business operators. Consumers also play a crucial role.
The WHO World Food Safety Day 2024 communication toolkit suggests that governments develop or update national food safety emergency response plans, strengthen food control systems, increase surveillance, and improve communication with food businesses and the public. Prof. Adeyeye noted that the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has programs for disease prevention and control, including the National Integrated Guidelines for Foodborne Disease Surveillance and Response, which aid in preparedness and rapid response to foodborne diseases.
She urged all stakeholders, including regulatory officers, producers, processors, distributors, retailers, restaurant outlets, and consumers, to evaluate their readiness for unexpected food safety threats. “Let us all stay true to the statements ‘food safety is everyone’s business’ and ‘food safety is a shared responsibility,’” she said, emphasizing the need for a resilient and robust food safety system.