Don Advocates Regulatory Agency Against Poisonous Foods

Prof. Omolola Ekundayo, of Ambrose Alli University Ekpoma, Edo, has advocated the establishment of a proactive regulatory agency to monitor the quality of local foods in the country.

Ekundayo said the proposed agency would help curb rising incidences of cancer and other terminal diseases.

She made the call while speaking on “Microbial Impact: Gains and Loses” at the 47

th Inaugural Lecture series of the university in Ekpoma, Edo.

She advised government to be interested in the quality of food consumed by Nigerians to help achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in the health sector.

While acknowledging the existence of NAFDAC, the don, however, said the agency had only made impact in the fight against fake, poisonous and expired drugs.

The professor of microbiology pointed out that most of the country’s local foods contained aflatoxins and other myco toxins, which she said were carcinogenic that killed slowly.

“Our foods are contaminated with these poisons and carcinogens; this is why cases of cancer are on the rise.

“Our very common foods are very positive for the presence of very dangerous and harmful organisms such as salmonella, Escherichia and many others.

“In developed countries, when one batch of food item is tested and found be to positive for any of these organisms, within a few hours, all such contaminated foods are recalled and removed from the shelves.

“What is the response of our government to the presence of aflatoxins in our foods?,” she asked.

Ekundayo, however, noted that in spite of the negative side of those organisms, majority of them could be exploited for economic advantage.

She explained that many industrial processes could be established for the production of amino acids, vitamins, organic acids, enzymes and alcohol.