The Director General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, has called on all stakeholders in the food supply chain to adopt effective food safety measures.
This call was made during the commemoration of the 2024 World Food Safety Day, themed “Food Safety: Prepare for the Unexpected,” as stated by the agency on Tuesday.
Prof. Adeyeye referenced World Health Organization (WHO) data indicating that globally, one in ten people fall ill and 420,000 people die annually from consuming contaminated food.
She emphasized that this issue results in the loss of 33 million healthy life years, disproportionately affecting children under five and other vulnerable groups, particularly in impoverished regions.
Highlighting the economic impact, Prof. Adeyeye noted that developing countries incur approximately $110 billion annually in medical expenses due to unsafe food.
She stressed the critical importance of food safety for public health, economic progress, and food security.
“Everyone has a role to play from the farm to the table to ensure that the food we consume is safe and will not cause damage to our health,” she stated.
Prof. Adeyeye also outlined WHO’s recommendations for World Food Safety Day 2024, which include developing or updating national food safety emergency response plans, enhancing national food control systems, boosting surveillance and coordination capabilities, and improving communication with food businesses and the public.
