World Food Safety Day: NAFDAC Warns Against Contaminated Food Consumption
By Dahiru Kawu & Murtala Muhammad
National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC say eating food that is unfit for human consumption is one of the major causes of food poisoning and common illness worldwide.
Bauchi State Coordinator, NAFDAC Dr Paul Kamai stated this in Bauchi at a Stakeholders’ event to commemorate this year’s World Food Safety Day, with the theme: “Safe Food Now for a Healthy Tomorrow.”
In a paper titled “Food Safety and Preservation”, Dr Paul Kamai said it was estimated that globally more than four million people die annually due to poisoning.
He said ensuring food safety wass a public health priority, and an essential step towards achieving food security.
The state Coordinator, NAFDAC noted some of the food contaminants include, buse and misuse of Agrochemicals, Illegal use of banned Agrochemicals,
Pesticide residues,Veterinary drug residues, microbial contaminants among others.
Speaking, the Permanent Secretary of the state Ministry of Budget, Economic Planning and Multilateral Coordination, Jibrin Muhammad Yusuf, said considering the importance of consuming safe food, a committee has been constituted to work with relevant state and non-state actors in the area of quality food production and nutrition for the benefit of people, particularly children and women.
In separate remarks, the State Team Lead of Alive and Thrive, Mr. Chidi Asimobi, and Usman Umar Muhammad from the State Food Safety and Nutrition Committee emphasized the importance of synergy among all stakeholders to use modern methods of food and nutrition production to ensure a healthy society.
The event was organized by the Bauchi State Committee on Food Safety and Nutrition in collaboration with Catalysing Strengthened Action For Healthy Diet And Resilience CASCADE.
