The National Agency for Food and Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has cautioned Nigerians against keeping their cooked meals in a refrigerator for more than 72 hours.
Prof Mojisola Adeyeye, the DG of NAFDAC gave the admonition at the 2024 World Food Safety Day with the theme, ‘Food Safety: Prepare for the Unexpected’.
Het speech, however, was contained in a statement signed by the agency’s Resident Media Consultant, Sayo Akintola, on Tuesday.
According to the statement, cooked food stored in the refrigerator for days will be exposed to contamination by disease-causing pathogens, leading to food-borne diseases that can lead to death.
“She (NAFDAC FG) urged Nigerians to refrain from storing cooked food in the refrigerator for more than three days, warning that cooked food stored in the refrigerator for days is susceptible to contamination by disease-causing pathogens, key agents of food-borne diseases that can lead to death,” the statement partly read.
She encouraged stakeholders in the food supply chain to actively cultivate a food safety culture within their operations, aiming to reduce hazards and risks that could compromise 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.
The World Health Organization says an estimated 600 million people—nearly one in 10 globally—become ill each year from consuming contaminated food, leading to 420,000 deaths and the loss of 33 million healthy life years annually.
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