food safety
Agricultural Science Research Journals Vol. 2(7), pp. 384-389, July 2012
Available online at http://www.resjournals.com/ARJ
ISSN-L:2026-6073© 2012 International Research Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Food safety regulations: reducing the risk of foodborne diseases in rural communities of Abia state,
Nigeria
G.E. Ifenkwe
Department of Rural Sociology and Extension, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State, Nigeria.
E-mail:godwinifenkwe@yahoo.com
Abstract
Most kitchens, grocery stores and catering houses, especially those in rural communities, will fail abysmally if subjected to hygiene and food safety tests. This is in terms of meals/drinks served and cleanliness of tables, table cloths, utensils, and servers. Nigerian press reports is replete with cases of hospitalization and death arising from use of adulterated and fake food/drugs, and fatalities from use of banned food storage chemicals. Concern for the prevalence of food-borne ill-health, and the need to reduce the risk and losses associated with them, therefore, prompted this study which reviewed food safety legislative provisions in Abia State. The finding shows that although pragmatic steps have been taken in the state to address an aspect of food security (increasing food production to prevent hunger) in the issue of food safety, another aspect of food security, received only tangential legislative attention. The paper notes that even though Nigeria has over nine food laws, the problem lies with implementation of these laws. It, therefore, recommends that the National Agency for Food and Drugs
Administration and Control (NAFDAC), the food agency in Nigeria be given additional support to enable her extend surveillance and awareness-creation activities to the grassroots.
Keywords: Food security, Functional foods, Food legislation, Food safety, Food-borne infections.
INTRODUCTION
Food, a basic necessity of life, derives its importance from the fact
Available online at http://www.resjournals.com/ARJ
ISSN-L:2026-6073© 2012 International Research Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Food safety regulations: reducing the risk of foodborne diseases in rural communities of Abia state,
Nigeria
G.E. Ifenkwe
Department of Rural Sociology and Extension, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State, Nigeria.
E-mail:godwinifenkwe@yahoo.com
Abstract
Most kitchens, grocery stores and catering houses, especially those in rural communities, will fail abysmally if subjected to hygiene and food safety tests. This is in terms of meals/drinks served and cleanliness of tables, table cloths, utensils, and servers. Nigerian press reports is replete with cases of hospitalization and death arising from use of adulterated and fake food/drugs, and fatalities from use of banned food storage chemicals. Concern for the prevalence of food-borne ill-health, and the need to reduce the risk and losses associated with them, therefore, prompted this study which reviewed food safety legislative provisions in Abia State. The finding shows that although pragmatic steps have been taken in the state to address an aspect of food security (increasing food production to prevent hunger) in the issue of food safety, another aspect of food security, received only tangential legislative attention. The paper notes that even though Nigeria has over nine food laws, the problem lies with implementation of these laws. It, therefore, recommends that the National Agency for Food and Drugs
Administration and Control (NAFDAC), the food agency in Nigeria be given additional support to enable her extend surveillance and awareness-creation activities to the grassroots.
Keywords: Food security, Functional foods, Food legislation, Food safety, Food-borne infections.
INTRODUCTION
Food, a basic necessity of life, derives its importance from the fact
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