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The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, and Cascade, a non-governmental organization focused on food safety and nutrition, have raised alarms about the persistent misuse of agrochemicals in food preservation.
The Director General of NAFDAC, Moji Adeyeye said food poisoning has been the cause of death of over 4 million people globally.
She cautioned farmers, food manufacturers, and other stakeholders against the abuse and illegal use of agrochemicals.
Speaking at the World Food Safety Day event organised by CASCADE Nigeria in collaboration with the Bauchi State Committee on Food and Nutrition, Adeyeye reiterated NAFDAC’s commitment to ensuring that all food products and drugs are safe for human consumption.
“NAFDAC has maintained the ban on 100ml dichlorvos (snipper), which has been used for food preservation due to its harmful effects on humans,” she stated.
She added that this year’s theme, “Prepare for the Unexpected,” is timely and aims to raise awareness about global issues of hunger, malnutrition, and starvation.
Earlier in his address, Dr. Paul Kamai, the Bauchi State Coordinator of NAFDAC, stressed that food safety is a public health priority and a crucial step toward achieving food security.
According to him, effective food safety and management systems are essential not only for protecting public health but also for promoting economic development.
Kamai noted that food contaminants include the misuse of agrochemicals, pesticide residues, veterinary drug residues, the illegal use of banned agrochemicals, and microbial contaminants.
He mentioned that the agency has initiated an aggressive campaign to remove these contaminants from circulation.
In his remarks, Jibrin Mohammed Yusuf, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Budget and Multilateral Coordination and Chairman of the Committee on Food and Nutrition, expressed concern over the rising cases of malnutrition among children under five in the state.
He spoke on the need to address both food safety and food availability, mentioning initiatives like school gardens to promote local nutritious diets.
Olusesi Oliyide, the Private Sector Support Officer of CASCADE, listed the organization’s efforts to train food vendors under the Homegrown School Feeding Programme on proper food storage, preparation, and packaging to prevent contamination.
He reiterated that food safety is crucial for ensuring maximum nutrition in meals.
Asimobi Chidiebere, the Focal Person for Alive & Thrive FHI 360 Bauchi, mentioned that the organisation is providing multiple micronutrient powder to children under five to combat malnutrition.
