An estimated 420,000 people globally die each year from consuming unsafe food, according to Dr. Oluwaserimi Ajetunmobi, the Oyo State Commissioner for Health. Dr. Ajetunmobi disclosed this alarming statistic during a symposium commemorating the 2024 World Food Safety Day, held at the Ibadan Business School, Ibadan, on Wednesday.
The commissioner highlighted that these 420,000 deaths stem from 600 million cases of foodborne diseases recorded annually worldwide, with a third of the fatalities being children under the age of five.
Speaking at the event, Dr. Ajetunmobi emphasized the crucial role of food safety in maintaining good health and promoting an active and healthy lifestyle. She stated, “Safe food is one of the most critical guarantors for food health; only when food is safe can it meet nutritional needs, help children to grow and develop, and enable adults to live an active and healthy life. Food safety and nutrition are inextricably interconnected and are equally essential parts of food security.”
Dr. Ajetunmobi noted that food safety remains a significant public health challenge affecting millions globally, especially in developing countries. She highlighted the food safety issues in Nigeria, particularly within the informal sector, and praised the efforts by state and non-state actors to address these challenges and move Nigeria towards food and nutrition security.
The Oyo State government has been proactive in promoting food safety. Dr. Ajetunmobi mentioned the recent inspections of food vendors at the state secretariat and across Ibadan, with a stern warning to those found cooking in unsafe conditions. She stressed the importance of multisectoral collaboration to tackle food safety issues, food insecurity, and strengthen preparedness for unexpected food safety challenges, such as cholera outbreaks.
“The Oyo State Ministry of Health is committed to global best practices to achieve its primary goal of safe food to ensure citizens’ health,” Dr. Ajetunmobi added. “Through the Department of Food, Water and Laboratory Services, the ministry pursues its food safety objective by implementing various initiatives in line with the state strategic health development plan (2018-2022), the State Registration and Quality Control Regulations (2012), the Public Health Law (Cap 135), and other extant laws in Nigeria.”
Under the leadership of Governor Seyi Makinde, Oyo State aims to transform its food systems to ensure the availability of safe and healthy foods for its residents. The state is focused on creating a resilient food safety control system and an overall robust healthcare system.
Also speaking at the event, Modupe Banwo, Project Manager of the Food Safety for Africa Project coordinated by the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA), emphasized the project’s focus on the informal sector where many people purchase their food. The project aims to address aflatoxin management, pesticide misuse, technological innovation in fish farming, and microbiological contamination of leafy vegetables.
Banwo stressed the importance of making food safety a way of life for those in the informal sector and adopting new technologies in fish farming and food safety.
The event also featured contributions from Mr. Femi Stephen of the Federal Ministry of Health, Mrs. Okurounbi Olanike of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), and representatives from the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), Technology Incubation Centre (TIC), Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria, Farmers Association, Oyo State Water Corporation, and the Oyo Ministry of Agriculture. They all underscored the need for increased focus on food safety in a world where many are consuming genetically modified foods.
