World Food Safety Day: Stakeholders worry over abuse, misuse of agrochemicals

Rauf Oyewole

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and Cascade, a non-governmental organisation focusing on food safety and nutrition have warned against incessant application of agrochemicals in preservation of good items.

While speaking in Bauchi yesterday, the Director General of NAFDAC, Moji Adeyeye said that food poisoning has been the cause of death for over 4 million globally, warning farmers, food manufacturing and other dealers from abuse and illegal use of the agrochemicals.

She spoke at this year's commemoration of the World Food Safety Day organised by CASCADE Nigeria in collaboration with the Bauchi State Committee on Food and Nutrition. Adeyeye said that her Agency would always ensure that all food products and drugs are fit for human consumption.

“NAFDAC has sustained the ban on dichlorvos (snipper) 100ml which has been used for food preservation because of its effect on humans,” he said. 

She said that this year’s theme, “Prepare for the unexpected” was timely, saying it would help spread awareness on hunger, undernourished population and starvation problems around the world.

Also speaking, Bauchi State Coordinator of NAFDAC, Dr Paul Kamai said that ensuring food safety is a public health priority and an easy step to achieving food security.

According to him, effective food safety and management systems are important and not only to safeguard the wellbeing of the people but also foster economic development.

The Coordinator added that food contaminants include abuse of agrochemicals, pesticide residues, veterinary drug residues, illegal use of banned agrochemicals and microbial contaminants, saying that the Agency has launched an aggressive mop up from the circulation.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Budget and Multilateral Coordination and the Chairman, Committee on Food and Nutrition, Jibrin Mohammed Yusuf, said that the state has continued to witness an increase in cases of malnutrition among children under 5 years which is worrisome.

According to him, “As we discuss food safety we also need to talk about food availability especially at this period. Today, we have established school gardens and demonstrations to promote use of local nutritional diets.

The Private Sector Support Officer of CASCADE, Olusesi Oliyide said that the organisation has built the capacity of food vendors under the Homegrown School Feeding Programme on food storage, preparation and packaging to avoid contamination.

Oliyide said that food safety is key to ensuring maximum nutrition in meals.

The Focal Person of Alive&Thrive FHI 360 Bauchi, Asimobi Chidiebere said that the organization is working to provide multiple micronutrient powder to children under 5 to address the problem of malnutrition.