Stakeholders, such as the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the Health Ministry, among others, have urged for increased cooperation and a united front to battle foodborne illnesses and improve food safety measures.
Leadership reported that the appeal came as the international community observed World Food Safety Day in 2023 in recognition of the critical requirement for improved cooperation to address the enduring difficulties relating to food safety.
The theme for 2023, “Standards Save Lives,” is crucial since food contamination episodes continue to endanger public health, requiring stakeholders to emphasize the importance of concerted action.
According to the FAO’s country representative for Nigeria and ECOWAS, Fred Kafeero, the UN created the day to promote global efforts to treat people with these non-communicable diseases.
Kafeero, who was represented by the country team leader for FAO’s ECTAD, Otto Muhinda, said the celebrations aimed to raise awareness and inspire action to help prevent, detect, and manage food-borne risk, and contribute to food security, human health, economic prosperity, agricultural production, market access, tourism, and sustainable development.
Food safety, according to the permanent secretary of the Ministry of Health, Engr. Adebiyi Afolabi, is vital to maintaining the safety of food throughout the entire food chain.
The director of pharmaceutical services for food and drugs at the ministry spoke on behalf of Nigerians and urged them to take all necessary steps to raise food safety procedures and standards and ensure the abolition of food-borne illnesses.
Director-general of SON, Farouk Salim also spoke, emphasizing that Nigeria’s journey toward obtaining the highest level of food safety is far from complete.
Salim, who was represented by Yunusa Mohammed, urged cooperation to enhance methods for managing, producing, processing, and distributing food, as well as to empower and educate consumers to make informed choices and demand safe food.
