AfriqueCAN:
NIGERIANS have been advised to abstain from keeping cooked food in the refrigerator for more than three days www.AfriqueCAN.com
The Director General of the National Agency for Food and Administration and Control – NAFDAC, Prof Mojisola Adeyeye, said in a statement on Tuesday, that cooked food stored in the refrigerator for days will be exposed to contamination by disease-causing pathogens, leading to foodborne diseases that can lead to death.
Speaking at the 2024 World Food Safety Day with the theme, ‘Food Safety: Prepare for the Unexpected’, the DG appealed to stakeholders in the food supply chain to make conscious efforts to create a food safety culture in their operations to minimise food hazards and risks that could compromise food safety.
She noted that food safety is not only important for public health but also for economic development, adding that everyone from producers to consumers must play their part to ensure food safety.
“Let us all stay true to the statements ‘food safety is everyone’s business’ and ‘food safety is a shared responsibility’ as we mark 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 said.
According to the World Health Organization, an estimated 600 million – almost one in 10 people in the world – fall ill after eating contaminated food, and 420,000 die every year, resulting in the loss of 33 million healthy life years.