The Federal Government has announced plans to strengthen the enforcement of food safety laws and prosecute offenders amid estimates that food contamination and unsafe practices cause 50 million foodborne illnesses and 53,000 deaths in Nigeria.

The Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Dr Kingsley Tochukwu Udeh, announced the measures at a press conference in Abuja on Tuesday.

Udeh said the government would collaborate with the Federal Ministry of Justice and the Attorney-General of the Federation to prosecute those involved in food contamination and adulteration, warning that offenders could face jail terms of six months to two years.

He said unsafe food remained a major public health concern, citing the World Health Organisation’s estimates of the global burden of foodborne diseases.

According to the minister, WHO reported that approximately 866 million people worldwide suffered foodborne illnesses in 2021, resulting in 1.52 million deaths, including 143,000 children under five.

He added that unsafe food could cause more than 200 diseases, ranging from diarrhoea to cancer.

Udeh cited reported incidents in Kogi and Ondo states as examples of the dangers of food contamination and unsafe consumption practices.

He said five members of a family died in Kogi State in August 2026 after consuming fufu reportedly processed from cassava flour, while 49 deaths were recorded in Ondo State in September following the consumption of locally prepared alcoholic and herbal drinks reportedly contaminated with methanol.

The government also plans to strengthen food safety regulations by more strictly enforcing Sections 243 to 245 of the Criminal Code Act, introducing improved food packaging and sealing practices, and using technology to detect and prevent contamination.

The Registrar of the Nigerian Council of Food Science and Technology, Mrs Veronica Ezeh, identified several unsafe food practices, including using calcium carbide to ripen fruits artificially, applying dichlorvos, commonly sold as Sniper, to beans and grains, and using paracetamol to tenderise meat.

She also cited the use of detergents and bleaching agents in cassava processing and the adulteration of palm oil with prohibited colourants such as Sudan IV dye.

Ezeh said such practices could expose consumers to serious health risks, including liver and kidney diseases, cancer and damage to other vital organs.

She said the government’s proposed measures included creating a food science and technology professional cadre across federal, state and local governments, convening stakeholders’ conferences and mobilising regulatory agencies to enforce food safety standards.

The council also plans to promote the adoption of its Food Safety Procedure Manual, launched last year, as part of efforts to improve food handling and processing practices nationwide.

Ezeh called on governments at all levels to employ food science and technology graduates, noting that Nigeria produces more than 3,000 graduates in the field annually. Nigerianews subscription

She said deploying trained professionals to food safety roles would strengthen monitoring and enforcement and help reduce the risks posed by contaminated and adulterated food. (The Nation)