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As the global community marks this year’s World Food Safety Day, Nigerians have been advised to be mindful of how they process their foods to guide against food poisoning .
A lecturer in the department of Agronomy, University of Ilorin, Professor Bashir Raji gave the advice in an exclusive interview with Correspondent Lanre Omotoso, to commemorate this year’s World Food Safety Day.
Professor Raji said foods are contaminated through excessive use of chemicals such as pesticide, herbicide and fertilizer during crop production, and when consumed, it could lead to food poisoning.
The Soil Scientist also emphasized that due to epileptic power supply, cook foods left exposed for more than Two hours could attract germs and viruses, hence the need to throw them away or reheat properly before consumption to guide against diarrhea.
Speaking on this year’s theme “Safe Food Today for Healthy Tomorrow”, Professor Raji maintained that every participants in the food value chain from farm to the table must ensure contaminated-free food for a healthy society.
The university lecturer opined that making food safety a priority would make more people to be healthier, more productive, and reduce pressure on healthcare systems.
In 2018, United Nations General Assembly proclaimed June Seven World Food Safety Day to draw attention to guide against food borne diseases, when it estimated that over Four Hundred Thousand people around the world die every year after eating contaminated foods.
The United Nations also pointed out that Children under Five years of age carry Forty percent of the food borne disease burden, with One Hundred and Twenty-Five Thousand deaths every year.
