The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and a non-governmental organisation focusing on food safety and nutrition, CASCADE, have warned against the frequent application of agrochemicals for the preservation of goods.
Speaking yesterday in Bauchi, NAFDAC’s Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, pointed out that food poisoning has been responsible for the death of over four million persons globally, warning farmers, food manufacturers and dealers against abuse and illegal use of agrochemicals.
The DG, who gave the warning at an event to commemorate the 2024 World Food Safety Day, organised by CASCADE Nigeria in collaboration with the Bauchi State Committee on Food and Nutrition, pledged that her agency would always ensure that all food products and drugs are fit for human consumption.
“NAFDAC has sustained the ban on dichlorvos (snipper) 100ml, which has been used for food preservation because of its effect on humans,” she said.
Adeyeye observed that this year’s theme, “Prepare for the unexpected” was timely, saying it would help spread awareness of hunger, undernourished population and starvation problems around the world. Bauchi State Coordinator of NAFDAC, Dr. Paul Kamai said ensuring food safety is a public health priority, and an easy step to achieving food security.
According to him, effective food safety and management systems are important not only to safeguard the well-being of the people but also to foster economic development.
The coordinator added that food contaminants include abuse of agrochemicals, pesticide residues, veterinary drug residues, illegal use of banned agrochemicals and microbial contaminants, stating that NAFDAC had launched an aggressive mop-up exercise.
Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Budget and Multilateral Coordination and Chairman, Committee on Food and Nutrition, Jibrin Mohammed Yusuf, said Bauchi’s increasing cases of malnutrition among children under five years were worrisome.
“As we discuss food safety, we also need to talk about food availability, especially at this period. Today, we have established school gardens and demonstrations to promote the use of local nutritional diets,” he said.
Private Sector Support Officer of CASCADE, Olusesi Oliyide, disclosed that the organisation has built the capacity of food vendors under the Homegrown School Feeding Programme on storage, preparation and packaging to avoid contamination. He stressed that food safety is key to ensuring maximum nutrition in meals.
The Focal Person of Alive&Thrive FHI 360 Bauchi, Asimobi Chidiebere, said that the body is working to provide multiple micronutrient powders to children under five years to address malnutrition.
