Food safety practices, critical to public health — Experts

Food safety practices, critical to public health — Experts

Safety

By Hussaina Yakubu

Kaduna, June 13, 2024 (NAN)  Experts have called for increased awareness on food safety practices to promote public health.

One of them, Mr John Tehinse, CEO of Funta Service Nigeria Ltd. spoke in an interview shortly after a training session he facilitated in Kaduna, which was organised by Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN)

 He encouraged the people to avoid unhealthy and contaminated foods due to their dangers to health.

The training on safety and food security was organized for women and youth-led businesses across Chikun, Kauru, Lere, and Jere LGAs.

 The event was supported by GAIN under the Strengthening Nutrition in Priority Staples (SNIPS) project.

Tehinse emphasized the importance of stakeholders across the food chain understanding food safety, which is critical to public health.

He highlighted that food produced without following proper safety practices posed significant risks to consumers.

“Contaminated food can cause food poisoning. Food left for too long in an unprotected environment gets contaminated, leading to stomach pains and long-term health issues,” Tehnise said.

He stressed that nutritious food must also be safe and urged Nigerians to adopt food safety as a culture.

Tehinse praised GAIN for involving communities that lacked basic facilities in food processing.

“GAIN has significantly impacted by educating people who handle a major portion of food from rural to urban areas on food safety,” he said.

In a separate interview, Mrs Patricia Monwuba, a retired Deputy Director of NAFDAC, also facilitated a session on food processing regulations.

 She guided the participants on adhering to food safety standards and regulations to ensure that the food sold was safe and nutritious.

Monwuba emphasized the need for proper food processing practices, including good manufacturing and hygienic practices.

 She advised parents to check labels, expiry dates, health information, and NAFDAC registration numbers when buying processed food.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that GAIN is implementing the SNIPS project in partnership with GIZ and the Green Innovation Centre for the Agricultural and Food Sector in Nigeria.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

HUM/BRM

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Edited by Bashir Rabe Mani