NAFDAC Warns Food Vendors On Storage, Packaging

The National Agency for
Foods and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has warned food manufacturers and vendors against improper storage and packaging, saying it is detrimental to health.
The Director General of the agency, Dr Paul Orhii, gave the warning in Enugu last Tuesday at a two-day workshop on national food safety organised for food manufacturers in the South East.
Orhii, represented by the Director of Planning, Research and Statistics in the agency, Dr Sampson Adebayo, said that improper food storage and packaging negated the mandate of the agency.
The DG said that observing scientific and systematic approach as well as the control of hazards during food manufacturing, processing and storage would improve food safety.
He said that any operator found wanting would be punished according to the provisions of the law and  expressed optimism that the workshop would expose participants to safe practices in primary food production and storage, food labelling and other guides on exportation of food products.
“In view of the serious and negative public health effect and the economic impact of unsafe food which is more in sub-Saharan Africa, NAFDAC in fulfilling its mandate must play a role in assuring food safety.
“One of such role is educating relevant stakeholders, especially primary producers, small and medium food processors, state and local government food inspectors and others,’’ he said.
In a lecture, the Director of Food Safety and Applied Nutrition in the agency, Mrs Ogochukwu Mainasara, urged manufacturers to maintain the World Health Organisation (WHO) keys to safer food.
She listed the keys to include clean hands, safe raw materials, safe food temperature and cooking thoroughly.
Mainasara advised food vendors to always in-print manufacture and expiry dates on their products to ensure effective security.