NAFDAC warns against storing cooked food in refrigerators for over 3 days, citing risks of contamination and foodborne illnesses that can lead to death.
The Director General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Prof. Moji Adeyeye, has issued a stern warning to Nigerians, urging them to refrain from storing cooked food in the refrigerator for more than three days. Adeyeye cautioned that cooked food stored in the refrigerator for extended periods is susceptible to contamination by disease-causing pathogens, which are key agents of foodborne diseases that can lead to death.
This advisory was made known in a statement released by NAFDAC's Resident Media Consultant, Sayo Akintola, on Tuesday. Adeyeye's warning coincides with the commemoration of the 2024 World Food Safety Day, themed "Food Safety: Prepare for the Unexpected." She emphasized the need for stakeholders in the food supply chain to take deliberate actions to institute a food safety culture in their operations to mitigate risks that could compromise food safety.
The statement highlighted the significance of food safety, stating that it is not only crucial for public health but also a prerequisite for economic development and food security. Adeyeye remarked that food safety is a collective responsibility, and everyone, from producers to consumers, needs to play their part to ensure it.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), an estimated 600 million people worldwide fall ill after consuming contaminated food annually, resulting in 420,000 deaths and a loss of 33 million healthy life years. Additionally, unsafe food costs low- and middle-income countries $110 billion yearly in productivity and medical expenses.
