Over 200 Diseases Caused By Food Contamination- Health Ministry Says
The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has disclosed that over 200 diseases are caused by eating food contaminated with bacteria, viruses , parasites or chemical substances.
The ministry on its social media handle on Friday, also stated that one in ten people worldwide fall ill from contaminated food yearly.
The ministry urged Nigerians to ensure that they store their foods properly and maintain good hygiene.
In a write-up titled,’Food Safety: Be Prepared, Eat Safe!’, the ministry wrote, “This #WorldFoodSafetyDay, the Ministry of Health reminds everyone to be prepared for the unexpected when it comes to food safety!
“Power outages, natural disasters, or even a simple fridge breakdown can impact food storage. Follow these tips to keep your food safe:
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“Proper storage: Maintain proper fridge & cupboard temperatures, cleanliness: Wash hands & surfaces thoroughly before handling food and know when to toss: Don’t risk it! Follow “use by” & “best before” dates.”
The ministry stated that in the past year, through its Food Safety and Quality Programme, it had undertaken various initiatives to enhance the food safety system and structure in the country.
One of the initiatives, it noted, is the implementation of the National Integrated Guideline on Food-borne Disease Surveillance and Response ensuring real-time collection of FBD data and improved prediction and response to food-borne diseases across the country.
“This has increased our score at the last Joint External Evaluation (JEE) from 20 per cent to 60 per cent in the two food safety indicators,” it said.
It added, “We have developed and operationalized two unified food safety training manuals to enhance the capacity of food handlers.
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“Reviewed the National Policy on Food Safety and Quality and its Implementation Plan, 2023 with an expanded scope addressing emerging food safety issues globally.”
The World Food Safety Day is commemorated on June 7 annually to draw attention to food safety incidents.
This year’s theme underlines the importance of being prepared for food safety incidents, no matter how mild or severe they can be.