NAFDAC raises alarm over unsafe food, pushes nationwide safety reforms

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has sounded a grave warning about the pervasive threat of unsafe food in Nigeria. Director-General Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye highlighted that millions of lives are at risk from preventable foodborne illnesses, urging immediate and sustained efforts to bolster the nation's food safety systems.

“

Today, we renew our commitment to building a Nigeria where every person, in every part of the country, has access to safe and wholesome food.

Speaking at the agency's World Food Safety Day celebration in Lagos, Adeyeye declared that access to safe and wholesome food should be recognized as a fundamental human right. She stressed that Nigeria must move beyond acknowledging food contamination issues to implementing practical solutions that ensure safety throughout the entire food supply chain, from farm to fork.

Adeyeye underscored that food safety is a critical, yet often overlooked, global public health concern. Foodborne illnesses, she noted, are linked to over 200 diseases, most of which can be prevented through robust regulation, diligent monitoring, and widespread public awareness campaigns. Unsafe food not only jeopardizes health but also undermines livelihoods, disrupts education, damages national economies, and leads to significant food waste and export rejections.

“

The theme for this year, “From Burden to Solutions – Safe Food Everywhere”, is a wake-up call. Unsafe food continues to exact a heavy toll through illnesses, economic losses, and even deaths. But these challenges are not beyond solutions.

The theme for this year's celebration, "From Burden to Solutions – Safe Food Everywhere," serves as a critical reminder. While unsafe food exacts a heavy toll through illness, economic losses, and fatalities, Adeyeye asserted that these challenges are surmountable. She emphasized that food safety risks span every stage of the food supply chain, necessitating collective responsibility from farmers, manufacturers, transporters, vendors, and consumers alike.

“

Everyone has a role to play in ensuring food is safe. It cannot be left to regulators alone. Farmers, manufacturers, transporters, vendors, and consumers all have responsibilities.

NAFDAC is intensifying its efforts to enhance regulatory systems, laboratory testing, surveillance, industry compliance, and consumer education. Adeyeye stated that the agency's primary role is to ensure market products meet both domestic and international standards. Achieving safe food for all, she concluded, requires more than just regulation; it demands strong partnerships, innovation, education, and the cultivation of a pervasive culture of food safety.

“

Achieving safe food everywhere requires more than regulation. It requires strong partnerships, innovation, education, and a culture of food safety.