NiCFoST Advocates for Food Safety Professionals in Markets

The Nigerian Council for Food Science and Technology (NiCFoST) has called on federal, state, and local governments to employ qualified food professionals in markets and food processing centers to improve food safety and protect public health. During a press briefing in Abuja on Thursday, Director General Veronica Ezeh stated that food safety cannot be ensured from offices alone and that trained professionals must be present where food is produced, processed, stored, and sold.

Ezeh highlighted the issue of food adulteration, citing examples such as traders mixing palm oil with prohibited Sudan dyes and displaying garri in unhygienic conditions. She advocated for affordable hygienic packaging methods and emphasized the importance of food safety inspections extending to raw materials.

Dr Kingsley Udeh, Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, supported NiCFoST's call, stressing the need for trained professionals to monitor food quality and safety standards, noting that Nigeria has about 3,000 food science professionals whose expertise is underutilized.