The Nigerian Council of Food Science and Technology (NiCFoST) has announced its strategic collaboration with grassroots commodities producers to combat food poisoning in the country.
The move, according to the council, is due to the rising concerns over food poisoning in circulation, stating that its partnership with grassroots commodities producers would enhance post-harvest handling processes, including storage, processing and packaging.
The initiative aims to address longstanding challenges of unprofessional practices and mismanagement within Nigeria’s food value chains.
The Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of NiCFoST, Ms. Veronica Ezeh, expressed deep concern regard over the negative effects of substandard food production on industrialisation efforts, export potential and the prevalence of preventable foodborne illnesses.
Speaking at a sensitisation forum involving states’ ministries of local government, Local Government Commissions, and State Ministries of Health, Ezeh underscored the urgent need for improved food safety measures across all levels of production and distribution.