By Halimah Olamide
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has warned Nigerians to stop storing cooked food in the refrigerator for more than three days.
According to the agency, cooked food stored in the refrigerator for days is susceptible to contamination by disease-causing pathogens, key agents of food-borne diseases that can lead to death.
The NAFDAC Director General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, tasked all stakeholders in the food supply chain to take deliberate actions to institute a food safety culture in their operations to mitigate the food hazards and risks that could compromise food safety.
She made the assertion at the 2024 World Food Safety Day tagged: ‘Food Safety: Prepare for the unexpected’.
Adeyeye harped on food safety being a collective responsibility, and also reiterated the need for everyone, from producers to consumers, to play their part to ensure that the food we eat is safe.
According to the Adeyeye in a statement by the agency’s Resident Media Consultant, Sayo Akintola on Tuesday, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that globally, one in 10 people fall ill, and 420,000 die each year due to consuming contaminated food.
This results in the loss of 33 million healthy life years, with children under five and other vulnerable groups in poorer regions being disproportionately affected eradication, prevention, and control of diseases, which include the National Integrated Guidelines for Foodborne Disease Surveillance and Response, useful for preparedness and rapid response to emerging and re-emerging foodborne diseases.
She challenged all the stakeholders, from regulatory officers, experts, producers, processors, distributors, retailers, restaurant outlets, and consumers, to consider if they are indeed prepared for the unexpected.
“Let us all stay true to the statements ‘food safety is everyone’s business and food safety is a shared responsibility’ as we celebrate this year’s World Food Safety Day.
“Working together, we will continue to strengthen our food safety system, ensuring its resilience, robustness, and preparedness for the unexpected,” she added.