FG Declares War on Food Poisoning, Says 53,000 Die Yearly

The Nigerian government has declared a war on food poisoning, acknowledging that the illness claims over 53,000 lives each year. This commitment was made by Dr. Kingsley Tochukwu Udeh, the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, during a visit by the Nigerian Council of Food Science and Technology (NiCFoST) to mark World Science Day for Peace and Development.

According to the World Health Organisation, 866 million people suffer foodborne illnesses annually, resulting in 1.552 million deaths, including 143,000 children under five, with an economic cost of $310 billion. Dr. Udeh highlighted unsafe practices in Nigeria, such as using calcium carbide to ripen fruit, treating beans and grains with dichlorvos, softening meat with paracetamol, bathing cassava in detergents, and adding prohibited colors to palm oil.

He urged institutions to utilize the available food science and technology professionals, currently trained in about 70 tertiary institutions, and emphasized the importance of effective implementation of existing laws. The minister also announced plans to convene a high-level National Food System Stakeholders Meeting to strengthen coordination.

Mrs. Veronica Ezeh, the Registrar of NiCFoST, warned that consumers are unknowingly purchasing food contaminated with dangerous chemicals, particularly Sudan IV dye used to adulterate red palm oil. She also highlighted the risks associated with chemical treatments of fruits, washing in contaminated water, and the improper handling and display of food in markets.

Ezeh stressed that professional oversight is crucial for ensuring food safety, advocating for government intervention and the deployment of trained food science and technology officers at local government levels.